Page:Oriental Scenery — One Hundred and Fifty Views of the Architecture, Antiquities, and Landscape Scenery of Hindoostan.djvu/243

30 No. XIV.

AN ANTIQUE RESERVOIR NEAR COLAR IN THE MYSORE.

stone cistern, which is very singular in its form, and in its style of decoration, was evidently intended for the purpose of containing water. It is situated near the high road not far from Colar; it was probably at some former period attached to a Choultry, and place of residence of the Bramins, though now nearly left without accompaniments. What remains is in the style of the antient architecture of the Hindoos. The great advantage of such an accommodation to travellers on the parched plains of this part of India, must be obvious, and it displays both the taste and benevolence of its author. Colar is distant from Bangalore in an eastern direction about thirty miles.

 No. XV.

EXTERIOR OF AN EED-GAH NEAR CHAYNPORE, BAHAR.

Eed-Gah is a place designed for the performance of solemn festivals by the professors of the Mahomedan religion. The interior of this building is extremely plain, and does not possess any thing worthy observation respecting art. It is of an open quadrangular form, somewhat resembling the courts before the Musjeds or Mosques of the Mahomedans, of which there is an example in the Jummah Musjed of Delhi, in the first series of this collection of Oriental scenery. This view represents a part of the exterior of the building. The general forms are uncommon, as well as the embellishments, which nevertheless are extremely rich and not inelegant. It is said to be of the workmanship of Patan artists.

 No. XVI.

INTERIOR OF A TEMPLE NEAR MUDDUNPORE.

is in the province of Bahar, and its situation is so recluse that it might have been expected the Hindoos here would have escaped the insolence of Mahomedan usurpation; unfortunately for them it happened otherwise, for after suffering in common with their countrymen from those intolerant invaders, they had the mortification to find their principal Temple, which is the subject of this view, polluted, and their sacred idols defaced. Muddunpore is distant from Patna in a S. W. direction about eighty miles.

 No. XVII.

VIEW NEAR BANGALORE.

neighbourhood of Bangalore is remarkable for the frequent appearance of the remains of ancient Hindoo architecture. Nearly in the centre of this view is a temple, but at present without an idol. On the left is the Chackra or Discous of Vishnoo, placed horizontally, supported by a pillar, both executed in stone: and on the right is a pavilion very neatly executed, which probably was the place for exhibiting to the multitude the idol belonging to the adjoining temple. Further on to the right is a stone pillar, on the top of which on particular occasions was placed the sacred fire.

Bangalore is in N. lat. 13°, E. lon. $77 1⁄2$°.

 No. XVIII.

ENTRANCE TO AN HINDOO TEMPLE, NEAR BANGALORE.

entrance to this Temple has a very striking effect, from the size and singularity of the mythological sculpture wrought in stone, which appear in the court before the Temple. On the right is the trident of Maha-Deva, and not far from it are two examples of the Chackra of Vishnoo, supported perpendicularly. Here are also pillars and altars for various religious purposes. The verandah is in a very good style of architecture. The passage leading to the interior, which is partly excavated, is so completely choked up with large stones as to be inaccessible. This place having now no establishment for religious duty, is accordingly deserted. 