102 TEMl'LE ARCJHITKCTURK. 



from Nuldroog, had endured, within largei- <)]• smaller 

 boundaries, since the middle of the tln'rd century, 

 when, about a.d. 1200, it was succeeded l)y rulers of 

 the Bahmany dynasty, noted for their erections of 

 massive forts, many of which are still existing, and it 

 was not until 1480 that the district came under the 

 dominion of the kings of Beejapoor. But we must 

 now return to the temj^les we came to see — an open 

 gateway, consisting of four stone columns, supporting 

 a plain entablature, stands some distance in advance 

 of the strong wall which surrounds the whole group, 

 accessible by an enormous pyramidal porch called 

 " Go'pura" so well known in connection with places of 

 Hindu worship. The latter has nine tiers, each of 

 them open in the centre ; built of granite, black 

 from age, and its entire height must be upwards of a 

 hundred feet. The space within, covering several 

 acres of ground, has on the right some ordinary build- 

 ings, reserved for the use of the priests, and a college ; 

 beyond those, again surrounded by an inner wall, is 

 the temple itself, or " Vwi&na,'' polygonal or star-shaped 

 of really noble jDroportions, surmounted by three of 

 those lofty towers, similar in size and form to that 

 over the entrance, and richly ornamented throughout. 

 The sides of the steps leading up to the temple are 

 carved, representing elephants drawing a chariot, and 



