called the Panch Pandoo. 1 1 1 



having been once ornamented with paintings in square compart- 

 ments of about one foot. From the frequent sujoke of torches, 

 however, sufficient of the design is not at present apparent to 

 admit of any judgement on its merits. 



Passing between the centre range of columns, to the end of the 

 caves, you enter an oblong recess, or viranda, measuring twenty 

 feet by twehe, open in front towards tlie cave, and supported by 

 two hexagonal columns. 



In niches on the remaining three sides of this apartment are 

 carved in bold relief, three figures; the centre is a female figure 

 nine feet and a half high; and those to the right and left are 

 male ones nine feet high. On each side of the doorway of the 

 inner apartment described below, there is also a figure of neciriv 

 nine feet. 



From this recess, or viranda, you enter in its back part, 

 through a small doorway, an inner apartment measnrino- twencv 

 feet by seventeen ; in the centre of whicli, cut out of the solid 

 rock, is what tlie natives term " The Chmn," being a regular 

 hexagon of three feet three inches each side, surmounted by a 

 plain dome reaching nearly to the roof, to which it is joined by 

 a small square ornament. 



Around the large cave also, on three side?, are small apart- 

 ments, called the dookans, or shops, each measuring niiie feet in 

 depth, with a separate entrance towards the cave. 7'here are 

 seven of these to the right, six to the left, and four at the end 

 of the cave, two on each side of the recess. 



Entering the second to the left of these small apartments, vou 

 ])crceive, at about four feet from the ground in the opposite wall, 

 a small oblong excavation of about tliree feet by two ; creeping 

 through which, you enter a smuU apartment of about twelve feet 

 scjuare, in the opposite wall of which is a similar excavation 

 leading to a like apartment; and so on successively for five small 

 rooms, gradually ascending the hill, the floor of eacii iimcr apart- 

 ment being on a level with the lower part of the entrance from 

 the outer one. 



These secret apartments appear originally either to have led, 

 or to have been intended to \e;^d, to the top of the hill : at pre- 

 sent, however, they receive neither light nor air, excepting from 

 the first entrance. 



The cave 1 have described, which is the largest, though in the 

 best preservation by far of the whole, still bears the marks of 

 rajjid decay. The shafts of five columns are wanting; and a 

 kind of terrace has been raised with their ruins. The left hand 

 circular column on entering has also once siiared the same fate; 

 but has I)ccn rebuilt with rude fragments of the same stone, and 

 afterwiuds jdastcred to rcscmbls the other pillari. This plaster 



has. 



