DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.611#0134
94 CHAPTER V.
Singh, continued the work, and built the very fine tank
and temple about a mile from the Palace.
Should the visitor have obtained permission to see
the Fort, he will probably enter it, not from the river,
but from the Ramnagar side.
In the Fort tbere is an Armoury containing interest-
ing specimens of weapons of days gone by. The recep-
tion room is a fine oblong hall, having on its walls
paintings of the present and former Maharajas. There
are some good specimens of fine carved ivory work,
carved, I believe, in the palace, which have replaced far
less effective ornaments. This is a happy indication of the
efforts now being put forth in some quarters, to revive
indigenous arts and industries, and to let pure Indian
art take the place of tawdry European trinkets.
Leading from this hall is a fine balcony with marble
floor and a very handsome marble throne. From this
balcony a magnificent view of Benares is obtained.
There are several temples in the Fort, one being in
honour of Vedavyis, a great saint of ancient days, to
whom well-nigh innumerable books are attributed. To
Vedavyas is also attributed a very gracious boon granted
to the dwellers on the Ramnagar side of the river.
The tradition runs that he was on his way to Benares,
but having reached Ramnagar, was so delighted with
it that he would proceed no further. There was the
tradition that to die on the Ramnagar side of the river
Ganges was to suffer great loss and shame in the next
birth, but Vedavyas instituted a pilgrimage by which
this disaster might be averted, and a great annual mela
is still held, which is said to have thus originated.
One hesitates to mention another treasure of the
Palace, as permission to see it can only be obtained
under very special circumstances. This treasure is an
illuminated copy of the Ramayan of Tulsi Das. Probably
Singh, continued the work, and built the very fine tank
and temple about a mile from the Palace.
Should the visitor have obtained permission to see
the Fort, he will probably enter it, not from the river,
but from the Ramnagar side.
In the Fort tbere is an Armoury containing interest-
ing specimens of weapons of days gone by. The recep-
tion room is a fine oblong hall, having on its walls
paintings of the present and former Maharajas. There
are some good specimens of fine carved ivory work,
carved, I believe, in the palace, which have replaced far
less effective ornaments. This is a happy indication of the
efforts now being put forth in some quarters, to revive
indigenous arts and industries, and to let pure Indian
art take the place of tawdry European trinkets.
Leading from this hall is a fine balcony with marble
floor and a very handsome marble throne. From this
balcony a magnificent view of Benares is obtained.
There are several temples in the Fort, one being in
honour of Vedavyis, a great saint of ancient days, to
whom well-nigh innumerable books are attributed. To
Vedavyas is also attributed a very gracious boon granted
to the dwellers on the Ramnagar side of the river.
The tradition runs that he was on his way to Benares,
but having reached Ramnagar, was so delighted with
it that he would proceed no further. There was the
tradition that to die on the Ramnagar side of the river
Ganges was to suffer great loss and shame in the next
birth, but Vedavyas instituted a pilgrimage by which
this disaster might be averted, and a great annual mela
is still held, which is said to have thus originated.
One hesitates to mention another treasure of the
Palace, as permission to see it can only be obtained
under very special circumstances. This treasure is an
illuminated copy of the Ramayan of Tulsi Das. Probably