CAVES OF ELLORA. 75 



miles along the range of mountains, on the summit of which 

 stands the town of Roza, and at the base the village of 

 Ellora, and the beautiful and picturesque country that sur- 

 rounds it. 



It is, however, by far the most splendid and considerable. 

 Most of the others are caves, most elaborately and artisti- 

 cally carved and sculptured in the interior, but not often at 

 the top. Keylas, I believe, in both these respects, although 

 an isolated excavation from the solid rock, stands unrivalled 

 in the world. 



It is entered from below by a splendid gateway, and upon 

 emerging into the area many sculptured figures of Hindoo 

 deities appear right and left, but all seems hewn out to 

 make room for the grand temple in the centre, which is 

 approached by a vast staircase leading to the porch. I shall 

 omit any description of the multitude of chambers, galleries, 

 and balconies that are passed, and present themselves to 

 view on all sides, and conduct the reader at once into the 

 great hall of the temple, where a magnificent scene strikes 

 the beholder. Massive and elegantly sculptured pillars, 

 placed at equal distances, support the highly-polished roof of 

 solid rock, and having their foundation in the rock itself, 

 which forms the base; these are not only polished to the 

 greatest degree of brilliancy, but are most accurately cut 

 and finished. 



Two gigantic figures guard the entrance door, the height 

 of which is twelve feet, and the breadth six. The 

 length of the hall itself is one hundred and four feet, and, 

 including the platform, one hundred and forty-three 

 feet, and the breadth sixty -three feet, without including 

 the balconies which project from the sides and overlook the 

 courts below. This magnificent hall is divided by four 

 ranges of square pillars, leaving aisles or passages between 

 them. A whole pantheon of gigantic statues, male and 



