Photo 212/5(32)

Genre: Architectural Photography

General view of the group of temple-like monoliths known as the Pancha Rathas, from the north-west. The view shows, from left to right: Draupadi Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Dharmaraja Ratha and Nakula Sahadeva Ratha. With the stone lion and elephant, carved in the round, in the foreground. Another copy of this print at Photo 1000 (3086). Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of Southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '438 - About a mile to the southward, along a deep sandy road, from the structural temple last described, stand the five Raths, or sacred cars, of which the Photograph gives a good idea, as they are seen by any one approaching from the north. Mr. Fergusson, describing these, says, 'Between the granite hills and the sea-shore, seven masses of granite, of pale blueish grey colour, protrude from the sand, which have been carved by the Hindus probably about A.D. 1300, or it may be half a century preceding that date.' They were all no doubt intended to be used as temples, but with one exception, their cells have not been hollowed out. Like everything else here, they are left unfinished.'