Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/457

 CHAP. IV. VIJAYANAGAR. 403 move. 1 It is shown in Plate XI. as it appeared before its brick tower was taken down. There are, besides, either 236. View of Porch of Temple of Vitthalasvamin at Vijayanagar. (From a Photograph by Mr Neill. ) one or two pavilions, smaller, but similar in design to that represented in the woodcut, a gopuram, and other adjuncts, which would be interesting, if we had the means of comparing and describing them. 2 Although the temple of Vitthala is certainly one of the most remarkable ruins in India, and there are other temples of great beauty and extent in the capital, it is not quite clear that it is there the chefs-d'oeuvre of this dynasty are to be found, but rather at a place called Tadpatri about one hundred miles a little south of east from the capital. There are two temples there : the one now in use the Chintala Tiruvenkataswamin temple dedicated to Vishnu, is slightly the later of the two, having been built in the time of Timma Nayudu, the local governor, and son (or grandson) of Ramalinga Nayudu, governor in the early part of Krishna Deva's reign, who began the Ramcj-vara temple here. 3 The wonders of the place are two 1 The upper portion was of brick, but about twenty years ago, after an elaborate repair under the direction of Major H. Cole, the collector had it pulled down, lest it should crush the base, which had been cracked by fire. Similar stone cars exist at Tadpatri and other temples in southern India. 2 As Dr G. le Bon remarks, Vijayanagar is well worthy of a complete monograph on its architecture, as the culmination of the style. ' Les Monuments de 1'Inde,' pp. 161-162. 3 Inscriptions belonging to this Rame.r- vara temple are dated from 1507 to