DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0439
417
CHAPTER III.
KARUSA CAVES.
About a quarter of a mile to the east of the village of Karusa
and about 43 miles east of Dharasinwa, in the south-west of the
Nizam's territory, is a low but steep hill of laterite, in which soft
rock a range of caves are excavated ; but, as may easily be supposed,
the coarse conglomerate character of the rock not being favourable
for the execution of fine sculptures, these have been originally but
clumsily cut, and subsequent decay has in many places rendered
them still worse. Owing to the circumstance, and perhaps also to
their remote situation, none of this group of caves—except perhaps
that known as the Mahadeva Cave—are of much beauty or interest.
That one, however, would be a really fine cave anywhere if the
material out of which it is excavated had been such as to admit of
its design being adequately elaborated. Another cave, the Lakola,
is also of some merit, but very inferior to the other. All the others
are extremely rude, but not without some interest from their pecu-
liarities of design.
At the south end of the hill is a cave quite ruined by the fall of
^arly the whole roof and front. It has been about 45 feet wide,
and probably of considerable height. A little to the north, along
,e West face of the hill, is a small shrine with a rude imitation of a
*'%r or low spire,—or rather pyramidal roof,—carved on the rock
Te it- Next is a rude cell, 12 feet by 6, with an inner one of
Waller dimensions. In front is a recess in the rock about 15 feet
e> which can hardly ever have been covered ; and at the north
jU e of tmX again, is a small monolithic temple measuring only 3^
by 3 msidLe, with a small door, the outside of the roof being
I, lnto a sikhar, as in the previous instance.
Some distance from this, along the face of the scarp, there are
ore caves ; then we come to the principal group consisting of
&l 0nes- The first of these is of irregular shape. 11 to 15 feet
1 132
D 1)
CHAPTER III.
KARUSA CAVES.
About a quarter of a mile to the east of the village of Karusa
and about 43 miles east of Dharasinwa, in the south-west of the
Nizam's territory, is a low but steep hill of laterite, in which soft
rock a range of caves are excavated ; but, as may easily be supposed,
the coarse conglomerate character of the rock not being favourable
for the execution of fine sculptures, these have been originally but
clumsily cut, and subsequent decay has in many places rendered
them still worse. Owing to the circumstance, and perhaps also to
their remote situation, none of this group of caves—except perhaps
that known as the Mahadeva Cave—are of much beauty or interest.
That one, however, would be a really fine cave anywhere if the
material out of which it is excavated had been such as to admit of
its design being adequately elaborated. Another cave, the Lakola,
is also of some merit, but very inferior to the other. All the others
are extremely rude, but not without some interest from their pecu-
liarities of design.
At the south end of the hill is a cave quite ruined by the fall of
^arly the whole roof and front. It has been about 45 feet wide,
and probably of considerable height. A little to the north, along
,e West face of the hill, is a small shrine with a rude imitation of a
*'%r or low spire,—or rather pyramidal roof,—carved on the rock
Te it- Next is a rude cell, 12 feet by 6, with an inner one of
Waller dimensions. In front is a recess in the rock about 15 feet
e> which can hardly ever have been covered ; and at the north
jU e of tmX again, is a small monolithic temple measuring only 3^
by 3 msidLe, with a small door, the outside of the roof being
I, lnto a sikhar, as in the previous instance.
Some distance from this, along the face of the scarp, there are
ore caves ; then we come to the principal group consisting of
&l 0nes- The first of these is of irregular shape. 11 to 15 feet
1 132
D 1)