CAVE TEMPLES AT ELLORA. 35 



colonnade of considerable length we pass into a court, 

 250 feet by 150, containing in the centre the sacred 

 temple, or " Vimana," surrounded by columns and 

 figures of Gods in human and animal forms of colossal 

 dimensions. This temple consists of an oblong mass 

 of black granite richly carved, one hundred feet long 

 and half as broad, by seventeen feet high, held aloft 

 by four rows of pillars resting upon a deep tablature, 

 which again is supported by a number of enormous 

 elephants ; the entire edifice forming a pyramid nearly 

 a hundred feet high, and of a most striking and mag- 

 nificent character. 



There are other temples, some of similar construc- 

 tion, though very much smaller, besides some cave 

 chambers, more or less ornamented by sculpture. Of 

 course, they have all been much injured by the lapse 

 of time, and are now little more than ruins ; still there 

 is no difiiculty in recognizing their general plan and 

 many details, filling up in one's own mind such gaps 

 as may here and there occur. 



Before leaving the subject I cannot resist making 

 one or two remarks on the artistic value of these rock 

 temples, which have been produced by so much patient 

 and prolonged labour, combined with a most marvel- 

 lous skill. Taking the Kylas for our model, through- 



D 2 



