Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/223

 CHAP. V. GHATS OR LANDING-PLACES. 181 original inventors, at least in the North. The Hindus, on receiving it back, luxuriated in its picturesque richness to an extent that astonishes every beholder ; and half the effect of most of the modern buildings of India is owing to the bold pro- jecting balconies and fanciful kiosks that diversify the otherwise plain walls. The greatest defect of the palace is that the style, when it was erected, was losing its true form of lithic propriety. The form of its pillars and their ornaments are better suited for wood or metal than for stone architecture ; and though the style of the Mughals, in the last days of their dynasty, was tending in that direction, it never threw off the solidity and constructive propriety to such an extent as is done in these modern palaces of the Hindus. It is not at Dig carried so far as to be offensive, but it is on the verge of good taste, and in some more modern buildings assumes forms more suited for upholstery than for stone architecture. Since the time when Suraj-Mall completed this fairy creation, the tendency, not only with the Rajput princes, but the sovereigns of such states as Oudh, and even as Delhi, has been to copy the bastard style of Italian architecture we introduced into India. It was natural, perhaps, that they should admire the arts of a race who had shown themselves in war and policy superior to themselves ; but it was fatal to their arts, and whether a revival is now possible remains to be seen. GHATS OR LANDING-PLACES. Another object of architectural magnificence peculiar to northern Hindustan, is the construction of the ghats that every- where line the river-banks in most of the great cities, more especially those which are situated on the Ganges. Benares possesses perhaps the greatest number of edifices of this class ; but from Calcutta to Hardwar no city is without some speci- mens of this species of architectural display. The Ghusla Ghat at Benares (Woodcut No. 365), though one of the most modern, may be taken as a fair specimen of the class, although many are richer and much more elaborately adorned. Their object being to afford easy access to bathers, the flight of steps in front is in reality the ghdt, and the main object of the erection. These are generally broken, as in this instance, by small pro- jections, often crowned by kiosks, which take off the monotony inherent in long lines of narrow steps. The flight of stairs is always backed by a building, which in most instances is merely an object of architectural display without any particular destination, except to afford shelter from the rays of the sun to such of the idle as choose to avail themselves of it. When