Photo 1000/19(2043)

Genre: Architectural Photography

A similar though closer view to print 733. Described in E. D. Lyon, 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs designed to illustrate the ancient architecture of Western India' (Geneva, 1871): '644 and 645. - Instead of leaving the Khartarvasi enclosure by the same door by which it was entered, another exit will be found at the east end of the court, and almost immediately a path will be seen to the right passing round the face of the northern summit outside the wall of the enclosure, and it is from different spots in this path that these two views have been taken. They give an excellent idea of the manner in which the temples have been massed together on the summits of the hill, the fore ground in both being occupied by the great Motishah enclosure. This square was built by a Bombay merchant and his relatives in 1835, the valley having been partially filled up and levelled to provide the site; there are said to be 3,600 images contained in its temples. When the various temples which have been here described, have been visited and examined, it may safely be asserted that little more remains to be seen on the sacred hill of Palitana; consequently the services of the bearers with their curious doolies may at once be put into requisition, and merrily and quickly will they descend the rugged path down the face of the Hill and in a wonderfully short space of time deposit the weary traveller at the door of his tent below, nor if he be wise will he long delay in this fearfully hot spot, but starting as quickly as means of conveyance can be procured proceed at once to the cool little Bungalow at Gogo, so delightfully situated on the sea shore; and here let us hope that his reflections over what he has undergone and what he has seen will not induce him to exclaim that: 'Le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle'.'