1868.] Description of a Hindu Temple converted into a Mosque. 73 



Description of a Hindu Temple converted into a Mosque at Gaga,' 

 ■nes'var, Zild Medinipur. — By W. Herschel, Esq., B. G. S. 

 [Eeceived 21st December, 1867.] 

 This is another fine specimen of the stone buildings to be found 

 in the South-western parts of Medinipur. I visited it in 1866. The 

 plan of the building is an oblong enclosure. Outside, nothing is to be 

 seen but a flat wall, about 15 feet high, of clean cut massive laterite 

 stones, with no other ornament than a square beading of the same style 

 as that described for Chandrarekha Garh at page 183 of the Journal. 

 (Yol. XXXV. pt. i.) The long side is about 312 feet, and the other 252 

 feet, outside. There is no opening anywhere in the wall except at the 

 one narrow solid gate-way, so that the place looks queer and forbid- 

 ding. Perhaps for this reason it is called a Grarh by the people, and 

 possibly enough it was so used, when occasion required, as a defence 

 against Mahrattas. But the plan of the building is that of an ordinary 

 Mandir, in the centre of a large courtyard surrounded by a high solid 

 wall, on the inner side of which, the whole way round, is a row 

 of serais like cloisters. The wood cut below shews one such serai. 



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From each of the squat square piers an arch (so to call it, though it 

 is only laminated as in the sketch) springs across the cloister to the 



