DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0210
169
CHAPTEE XIY.
Temple of the Maharaja of Benares at Ramnagar.— Raja Cheit Singh's
Tank.—Virtue of Pilgrimage to the Ramnagar side of Benares.—
Temple of Vedavyas. — The Panch-kosi Road or Sacred Boundary
of Benares.—Pilgrimage of the Panch-kosi—Sanitary condition of
Benares.—Improvements suggested.
At a distance of a mile from the Fort of Bamnagar,
the residence of the Maharaja of Benares, is a hand-
some temple, situated on the eastern side of a capacious
tank. Its foundations were laid, and the finest portions
of its tower was erected, about one hundred years ago,
by Baja Cheit Singh; but it was completed by the
present Baja. The temple, including the platform on
which it rests, is fully one hundred feet high. Each
of its four sides, from the base to a height of thirty-
five or forty feet, is crowded with elaborately-carved
figures, in bass-relief. These are, in some places, broken,
but, generally speaking, are in a good state of pre-
servation. They are in five rows, six being in a row;
so that each side of the tower contains thirty figures,
and the four sides, one hundred and twenty. As no
expense has been spared in the execution of this pro-
digious work, it may be regarded as fairly representing
what Hindu genius, in modern times, can accomplish
in the art of sculpture, and should be visited and
studied as such. The lowermost row is filled with
CHAPTEE XIY.
Temple of the Maharaja of Benares at Ramnagar.— Raja Cheit Singh's
Tank.—Virtue of Pilgrimage to the Ramnagar side of Benares.—
Temple of Vedavyas. — The Panch-kosi Road or Sacred Boundary
of Benares.—Pilgrimage of the Panch-kosi—Sanitary condition of
Benares.—Improvements suggested.
At a distance of a mile from the Fort of Bamnagar,
the residence of the Maharaja of Benares, is a hand-
some temple, situated on the eastern side of a capacious
tank. Its foundations were laid, and the finest portions
of its tower was erected, about one hundred years ago,
by Baja Cheit Singh; but it was completed by the
present Baja. The temple, including the platform on
which it rests, is fully one hundred feet high. Each
of its four sides, from the base to a height of thirty-
five or forty feet, is crowded with elaborately-carved
figures, in bass-relief. These are, in some places, broken,
but, generally speaking, are in a good state of pre-
servation. They are in five rows, six being in a row;
so that each side of the tower contains thirty figures,
and the four sides, one hundred and twenty. As no
expense has been spared in the execution of this pro-
digious work, it may be regarded as fairly representing
what Hindu genius, in modern times, can accomplish
in the art of sculpture, and should be visited and
studied as such. The lowermost row is filled with