Photo 1002/35(1922)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Henry Cousens, 'Revised list of antiquarian remains in the Bombay Presidency ... originally compiled by J. Burgess' (Bombay, 1897), p. 127: 'The temple of Somesvara in the middle of the town, now used as a school room, is a typical example of a fully decorated Chalukyan temple at its best. With the exception of the finial of the shikara, the roof of the hall, and the front or east porch, it is entire in all its parts. The exterior is lavishly carved with ornament from base to summit. The plan of the shrine is star-shaped externally.'

Also reproduced in Henry Cousens, 'The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts' (Archaeological Survey of India, vol. XLII, New Imperial Series, Calcutta, 1926), plate 119, and described, pp. 112-13: 'This temple, which, at some period in the distant past, had been desecrated, and consequently abandoned as a regular place of worship, has, of late years, been used to house a small private school. It is situated in the middle of the town not far from the police chavadi. It is a good specimen of a fully developed Chalukyan temple, but has lost its forward open hall, if, indeed, it was ever built, together with the cornice over the south porch and the upper storey of its tower. It is fully decorated, but, although the ornament itself is rich and good, it is far too crowded, especially over the basement, for good taste. The architects were fond of the frequent repetition of detail, and indulged in this propensity of theirs to its utmost extent. The pilasters along the walls, with the constantly repeated niches and miniature sikharas became almost painfully monotonous, while the string courses of high lights and deep shadows in the basement run round the whole building with the most perfect regularity...'

See Photo 120 (1) for another copy of this print.

Subjects = Indian architecture