Photo 212/7(36)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close view of the base of the gopura of the Ramalingeshvara temple, showing detail of carved work. Another copy of this print at Photo 1000 (3174). 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: '526 - Before quitting this Temple, it will be worth our while to pass through the gateway, shown in 522, and examine the carvings on the outer façades of these two bases, on which the tower was intended to be erected. The portion here represented is the northern and eastern façade of the same block as that shown in 521, 522, and 523. It will thus be seen that all the four sides of these blocks are equally well carved, and we shall thus be enabled to form some idea of the amount of time and labour bestowed in the erection of the bases of its outer towers alone; such would naturally lead us to expect an equal degree of magnificence would be bestowed on the decoration of its interior edifices, but such will by no means be found to be the case. The fact is that these temples are seldom commenced on any deliberate plan. It generally happens that some village shrine becomes famous from some miracle performed by the god, or through the influence of some teacher attached to the place, when, instead of pulling it down, and beginning again de novo, the original shrine is left standing, and is surrounded by walls and gateways of gradually increasing magnificence. It thus generally happens, as in this case, that the setting far exceeds in value the gem it is designed to encase; and except in the case of Tanjore and one or two other examples, this is too generally the case in Southern India,

When the railway is opened from this place to Bombay - if the season is not too far advanced - nothing can be more interesting than to proceed at once to Sholapore, and thence visit Beejapoor, the Mohammedan capital, during the two centuries in which that city contended with Vijianuggur for the supremacy. The comparison between the ruins of the rival cities is a curious illustration of the difference of the two religions. In the Hindu city the ruins consist almost solely of temples, as we have already seen; whereas in the Mohammedan, tombs with their accompanying mosques, are the principal remains which attest its former grandeur. A pamphlet, containing a full description of this city, with the Photographs accompanying it, will shortly be published, to which the reader is referred for more detailed information of what is to be seen in and about this city, as well as between it and Bombay, to reach which the Bhore Ghaut must be descended - justly considered the most wonderful pieces of engineering in India, if not in the world.'