Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/224

 182 CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. BOOK VI. the bank is high, the lower part of these buildings is solid, and when, as in this instance, it is nearly plain, it affords a Ghusla GMt, Benares. (From Prinsep's Views.) noble basement to an ornamental upper storey, with which they are generally adorned, or to the temple which frequently crowns them. Though the Ganges is, par excellence, the river of ghats, one of the most beautiful in India is that erected by Ahalya Bat (Khande Rao Holkar's widow) at Mahe^war, on the Narbada ; and Ujjain and other ancient cities almost rival Benares in this respect. Indeed, there is scarcely a tank or stream in all India that is without its flight of steps, and it is seldom indeed that these are left without some adornment or an attempt at archi- tectural display, water being always grateful in so hot a climate, and an especially favourite resort with a people so fond of washing and so cleanly in their habits as the Hindus. Of such there are abundant examples, such as the Kunda or pond before the Surya temple at Modhera, the tanks at Viram- gam, Kapadvanj, and almost everywhere.