284 TRAVEL, ADVENTUEE, AND SPOET. 



Roman architecture, in its noble dimensions, in its 

 striking and beautiful form, in the gigantic stones of 

 which it is composed, in its imposing position, and 

 by the manner in which gloom and grandeur are 

 softened by its exquisite pillars, and its delicate 

 though now half-defaced ornamentation. 



This temple is situated within an oblong colon- 

 nade, composed of fluted pillars and decaying trefoil 

 arches and walls. It rises above these in such per- 

 fect majesty that one can hardly believe its present 

 height is only about forty feet. Its majestic outlines 

 are combined Avith rich and elaborate details ; but 

 a description of these, or even of its outlines, would 

 give no idea of its grand general effect, while desola- 

 tion and silence are around. Moreover, as Captain 

 Bates remarks, " It overlooks the finest view in 

 Kashmir, and perhaps in the known world. Beneath 

 it lies the paradise of the East, with its sacred streams 

 and glens, its brown orchards and green fields, sur- 

 rounded on all sides by vast snowy mountains, whose 

 lofty peaks seem to smile upon the beautiful valley 

 below." 



Baron Hiigel asserts of this ancient ruin, which he 

 calls by its name of Korau Pandau, or, more usually, 

 Pandu-Koru, that it "OAVCS its existence and name 

 to the most ancient dynasty of Kashmir. The great 

 antiquity of the ruin Avill be acknoAvledged, therefore, 

 when I remind the reader that the Pandu dynasty 

 ended 2500 years before Christ, after governing 



