Photo 1000/18(1948)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Reproduced in collotype in Burgess, 'Archaeological Survey of Western India', IX, plate 34 and described, pp. 55-56. View looking towards the ghat, with numerous small shrines on the steps. With figures bathing at the water's edge.

Cousens describes his visit to Viramgam in the report of his report for Mar-April 1890: 'Viramgam next claimed our attention; and the great multilateral tank called the Mana Sarovar, said to have been built by Sidh Raj, and covering about one and a half acres, completely surrounded with masonry in flights of steps to the water's edge, was surveyed. This is one of the largest and most famous tanks in Gujarat, and had around it, placed upon a broad landing above the steps, about five hundred free-standing shrines, each complete in itself with moulded basement, walls, and sikhara. This masonry platform has sunk considerable in many places, and has consequently canted over whole rows of these, whilst many have fallen and their material has been carried away, leaving now three hundred and thirty-seven of these shrines with two larger temples on the south and one connected range on the north. The shrines on the south of the tank are all devoted to Siva (linda), whilst those on the north were devoted to Vishnu. Five at the western end have been connected together into a modern temple devoted to Manasuri Devi, and these stand above the inlet sluice…The inlet sluice is peculiar in that, unlike other tanks of its kind which have three circular openings, this has five in two rows of three above and two below. Behind these are the usual adjuncts - the pillared chamber and masonry leading to it...'