TEMPLES IN RAJPOOTANA. 227 



his warlike consort, the gateway presents two remarkably 

 fine statues. 



In the same territory occur the tempk s of Chandravati, 

 the remains of the ancient city of Patun, the position of 

 which is now occupied by the recently erected and flourish- 

 ing town of Jbalra-patun. Patun, in the days of its glory, 

 was adorned by 108 shrines, of which only two or three im- 

 perfect specimens remain. These are covered with the 

 same profusion of chiselled and sculptured ornaments as 

 those at Barolli. But the statuary is far inferior, and. be- 

 ing more modern, marks a gradual decay in the art. It is, 

 however, much superior to the works executed in the pres- 

 ent day, when it is made a reproach that the Hindoo chisel 

 can produce nothing but deformity. The rich and varied 

 architectural ornaments, carved upon the gateways, col- 

 umns, ceilings, and every part of the edifices, appear to be 

 such as no artist in Europe could surpass. These struc- 

 tures have suffered much dilapidation by being used as quar- 

 ries for the construction of the modern town, into whose 

 walls thousands of sculptured divinities have been inserted, 



The temples of Ganga-bheva, not far distant from Ba- 

 rolli, display similar art and beauty, though inferior and 

 more modern, since a date corresponding to 955 A. D. is 

 found on the pavement. They are chiefly distinguished by 

 the deep forest with which they are now surrounded, and 

 the disappearance of every trace of human habitation. 

 " The tiger and wild boar are the only inhabitants that visit 

 the groves of Ganga-bheva." Several gigantic trees have 

 penetrated and rent the walls ; one of them has large slabs 

 encased in its wood, and its bark covers a whole regiment 

 of petty gods. The cave-temples of Dhoomnar, though ex- 

 tensive,. do not equal those of Elephanta and Carli. They 

 are chiefly remarkable for the mixture of the Jain worship 

 with that of Siva. Mynal in Mewar presents a most strik- 

 ing scene, both from its architectural beauty and the pecu- 

 liarity of its situation, which is on the brink of a precipice 

 overhanging the river, and at the entrance of a huge chasm 

 or dell, 400 feet in depth, " within which it would be death 

 to enter," crowded with luxuriant foliage, and peopled with 

 all the tribes of the Indian forest. 



The Hindoo temples of the present day, we have already 

 remarked, do not display a grandeur in any degree commen- 



