DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0125
87
are attracted by a row of shrines on the left, embel-
lished in strong glaring colours; and, at one angle of the
ghat, a temple is seen on the right-hand side, filling up
the corner in that direction, on arriving at "which you
come in sight of the river. It is dedicated to Kadha-
Krishna, that is, to Krishna and his wife, who are
standing side by side. They are both completely
dressed; Krishna has tinsel drapery about him, and
presents a somewhat rakish appearance. He is playing
on a flute; yet is, nevertheless, holding in each hand a
marigold and a rose—not artificial, but natural flowers.
The temple contains a number of small paintings, a red
idol of Ganes, and a tiny shrine in white marble, which
cost the sum of one hundred rupees, or ten pounds.
The Nag Kuan or Serpent's Well is situated in a
ward of the city called after the name of the well,
or Nag Kuan Mahalla, which adjoins the Ausan Ganj
Mahalla. This well bears marks of considerable anti-
quity; and, from the circumstance of an extensive
district of Benares being designated by its name, there
is no doubt that it must be regarded as one of the
oldest historical places the present city possesses. The
construction of this well was, probably, nearly, if not
quite, coeval with the building of the Mahalla or ward
itself, which, we may imagine, was described as that
part of the city containing the well—the well being
the most important and noticeable object there: and
so, gradually, the inhabitants associated the Mahalla
with the well, and called them by the same name.
The ward is in the north-western part of the city, at
some distance from the Ganges. The quarter lying
are attracted by a row of shrines on the left, embel-
lished in strong glaring colours; and, at one angle of the
ghat, a temple is seen on the right-hand side, filling up
the corner in that direction, on arriving at "which you
come in sight of the river. It is dedicated to Kadha-
Krishna, that is, to Krishna and his wife, who are
standing side by side. They are both completely
dressed; Krishna has tinsel drapery about him, and
presents a somewhat rakish appearance. He is playing
on a flute; yet is, nevertheless, holding in each hand a
marigold and a rose—not artificial, but natural flowers.
The temple contains a number of small paintings, a red
idol of Ganes, and a tiny shrine in white marble, which
cost the sum of one hundred rupees, or ten pounds.
The Nag Kuan or Serpent's Well is situated in a
ward of the city called after the name of the well,
or Nag Kuan Mahalla, which adjoins the Ausan Ganj
Mahalla. This well bears marks of considerable anti-
quity; and, from the circumstance of an extensive
district of Benares being designated by its name, there
is no doubt that it must be regarded as one of the
oldest historical places the present city possesses. The
construction of this well was, probably, nearly, if not
quite, coeval with the building of the Mahalla or ward
itself, which, we may imagine, was described as that
part of the city containing the well—the well being
the most important and noticeable object there: and
so, gradually, the inhabitants associated the Mahalla
with the well, and called them by the same name.
The ward is in the north-western part of the city, at
some distance from the Ganges. The quarter lying