Page:Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India Vol 9.pdf/15



Y tour in 1873-74 began with the discovery of the magni­ficent Stûpa of Bharhut, half-way between Allahabad and Jabalpur. As the description of this old Buddhist monument forms the subject of a separate volume, I only allude to it now for the purpose of indicating the site of the lofty crest of Lâl Pahâr, or the "Red Hill," at the south­ east foot of which the stûpa is situated. The hill is also known as Chhatri Pahâr, that is, the "Umbrella or Canopy Hill," a name which is said to have been derived from a large round stone, with a hole in the middle, which is now lying on the top, and which is supposed to be like an umbrella. The height of the hill is 1,869 feet above the sea, and 500 feet

le natural cave, large Outside there is an ers, which art? now

4 _ .... __ o. _ illegible. Near the Chhatri stone there is a separate piece of rock, with an inscription on the top in large letters, which shows that the rule of the Kulachuri dynasty of Chedi had onco extended to Bharhut. The inscription will be examined here­ after, along with other records of the Kulachuri kings of Chedi. A separate short line repeats the name o f the inscriber, as “ R&ut Sri Balldla D eva.” This brief record is important in giving the week-day, which will help us in ascertaining the initial point of the Chedi or Kulachuri era, which is clearly the Samvat here used. The inscription was recorded by Prince BallAla Deva, the son of Ke$avaditya, and grandson o f Kara Sinlia Deva,