DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0407
385
CHAPTER IV.
AURANGABAD CAVE TEMPLES.
The group of caves at Aurangabad, though one of the smallest and
least known, is far from being one of the least interesting among the
Cave Temples of "Western India. With the exception of a small and
ruinous Chaitya, and some insignificant cells, they are all of one
age, and that of the latest known. They are, in fact, the last dying
effort of the style, and, like most architectural objects similarly situa-
ted, these caves display an excess of ornamentation and elaborateness
of detail, which, though pleasing at first sight, is very destructive of
true architectural effect. To the historian of art they are not, how-
ever, less interesting on that account, nor less worthy of attention in
this place.
The hills in which these caves are situated lie to the north of
the city, about a mile from the walls, and rise to a height of about
'00 feet above the plains, presenting a precipitous scarp to the
the south—the side in which the caves are excavated.
f hey may be divided into three groups, scattered over a distance
at fully a mile an(j a kaif^ ^e grst an(j second 0f which are Buddhist
walate date; and the third—from their imfinished condition and
le entire absence of sculpture in them, it is difficult to say to what
sect they belonged.
Ihe first group consists of five caves lying nearly due north from
ie city. Tney are reached by a footpath ascending the right side
* the gorge or recess of the hill in which they are, at a level of
a out 300 feet above the plain. Commencing from the west end
Ae series, or that farthest from where the path lands, we shall
^ber them towards the east.
AVE **» the most westerly of this group, is reached by a precipi-
°11S and difficult footpath leading up to it from the others, which
Jre all at a lower level. The front, which is 74 feet in length, has
ur advanced pillars forming a porch, and supporting a great
0 rock projecting far in advance of the pillars of the veran-
1 13') ° »
I? B
CHAPTER IV.
AURANGABAD CAVE TEMPLES.
The group of caves at Aurangabad, though one of the smallest and
least known, is far from being one of the least interesting among the
Cave Temples of "Western India. With the exception of a small and
ruinous Chaitya, and some insignificant cells, they are all of one
age, and that of the latest known. They are, in fact, the last dying
effort of the style, and, like most architectural objects similarly situa-
ted, these caves display an excess of ornamentation and elaborateness
of detail, which, though pleasing at first sight, is very destructive of
true architectural effect. To the historian of art they are not, how-
ever, less interesting on that account, nor less worthy of attention in
this place.
The hills in which these caves are situated lie to the north of
the city, about a mile from the walls, and rise to a height of about
'00 feet above the plains, presenting a precipitous scarp to the
the south—the side in which the caves are excavated.
f hey may be divided into three groups, scattered over a distance
at fully a mile an(j a kaif^ ^e grst an(j second 0f which are Buddhist
walate date; and the third—from their imfinished condition and
le entire absence of sculpture in them, it is difficult to say to what
sect they belonged.
Ihe first group consists of five caves lying nearly due north from
ie city. Tney are reached by a footpath ascending the right side
* the gorge or recess of the hill in which they are, at a level of
a out 300 feet above the plain. Commencing from the west end
Ae series, or that farthest from where the path lands, we shall
^ber them towards the east.
AVE **» the most westerly of this group, is reached by a precipi-
°11S and difficult footpath leading up to it from the others, which
Jre all at a lower level. The front, which is 74 feet in length, has
ur advanced pillars forming a porch, and supporting a great
0 rock projecting far in advance of the pillars of the veran-
1 13') ° »
I? B