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Geology of the Valley of Oodipoor, By James Haedie, Esq, 

 Bengal Medical Establishment, Member of the Asiatic So- 

 ciety, &c. (Communicated by the Author.) 



The city Oodipoor, the modern capital of Mewar, is built upon 

 an elevated ridge of rocks connected with the hill ranges which 

 skirt, to the westward, the picturesque valley to which it gives 

 its name. It is situated in Lat. 24° 25' N., Long. 73° 44' E. 



The valley itself is enclosed by the hill-ranges which form 

 the eastern barrier of the elevated plateau, known as the Ara- 

 vuUi mountain chain, which, rising into rugged hills and ridges, 

 stretches north through Ajmer, and south towards the Nar- 

 budda. I am not prepared to enter into a general account of 

 the geology of this mountain mass, but shall content myself with 

 directing your attention to that portion of it which immediate- 

 ly surrounds the city of Oodipoor. 



The surface of the valley * of Oodipoor, exhibits an uneven 

 plain, studded with numerous low hills and collines, the whole 

 being surrounded by hill-ranges of a higher altitude, distin- 

 guished by sharp spines and crests, denticulated and craggy 

 ridges, and peaks of a bold and striking character. The ave- 

 rage elevation of the valley is about 2000 feet above the 

 sea, its circumference, without attending to all its numerous 

 sinuosities, may be estimated at about 60 miles, its greatest 

 length being from north to south. The breadth of the Ara- 

 vulli plateau (if so irregular and rugged a tract deserves the 

 name), is in this portion of the country about 60 miles in a di- 

 rect line from east to west, its highest pinnacles to the west- 

 ward rising to an elevation of 3600 feet above the sea. In the 

 neighbourhood of Oodipoor, the height of the hills varies from 

 400 to 700 or even 800 feet above the plain.* 



The hilly belt which surrounds the valley, is traversed by 

 numerous deep and rugged ravines. The gorges and passes 

 through which the routes or rather paths to the city wind, are 

 difficult of access. One, indeed, has at considerable expense 

 and labour been rendered passable for wheel carriages, but the 

 others, three or four in number, can with difficulty be threaded 



• Though not strictly speaking a valley, but rather an irregular plateau, 

 I have retained the name as in common use. 



