260 FOOTE : SOUTH MAHRATTA COUNTRY. 



convenient for turning out large blocks admirably fitted for building 

 purposes, being hard and tough in the extreme. The bridge in question 

 is a very fine work, and reflects high credit on the Eailway Company^ 

 and especially on the engineers more immediately concerned in the con- 

 struction, Mr. Henry Gale, C.E., and Mr. William Robinson, C.E. 



The Kalddgi Series. 

 A'very large and varied supply of excellent stones for building and 

 other purposes is obtained from the different members of this great rock 

 series. The localities yielding good sandstones, both thick and thin- 

 bedded, are very numerous, and only the most important will be named, 

 beginning*at the most easterly extremity of the Kaladgi basin. 



Both at Hanam Sagar and Gudur sandstones have been largely 

 quarried, and again at Aiholi, or Aiwali (Iwullee of Sheet 58). At the 

 latter place are numerous old Jain temples built of fine cream-colored 

 or pale reddish yellow brown sandstone, with elaborate mouldings and 

 carvings of great beauty. 



The suitability of the stone greatly aided the skill of the sculptors, 

 some of whose works are really of great merit, 



Jain temples at Aiholi. • n ,i ,- ^ ^ L^ a • j^i 



especially the caryatides and other figures m the 

 temple with an apsidal back standing in the village. 



Other Jain temples built of stones from the Aiholi quarries occur 

 at considerable distances from them, e. g., two fine temples which 

 stood on the end of the Hunugund ridge some years back overlooking the 

 town, but of which the finer, a gem of carved stone work, was pulled 

 down by some barbarian in the Public Works Department. Another group 

 of temples stands at Patadtkal,* some miles further up the valley of the 

 Malprabha than Aiholi. Three other groups of Jain temples at Magandi, 



* The name of this village has been accidentally omitted from Sheet No. 41 of the 

 Indian Atlas. 



( 260 ) 



