1865.] Report of the Archaeological Survey. 237 



Parana as the name of a river distinct from the Gfomati ; hut as the 

 name immediately follows that of the Gromati, I think it probable that 

 the term may have been intended only as in epithet of the Gomati, as 

 the Dhutapdpa, or " Sin-cleanser" in allusion to the legend of Rama's 

 purification. An annual fair is held here on the 10th day on the wax- 

 ing moon of Jyesth, at which time it is said that about fifty thousand 

 people assemble to bathe in the far-renowned pool of Dhopdpa. 



301. The site of Dhopdp is evidently one of very considerable anti- 

 quity, as the whole country for more than half a mile around it is 

 covered with broken bricks and pottery. The place is said to have be- 

 longed to the Bhar Rajas of Kusabhavanapura or Sultanpur, but the 

 only name that I could hear of as specially connected with Dhopdp, 

 was that of Raja Hel or Hela. The village of Dhopdp-pur is now a 

 very small one, containing less than 200 houses, but they are all built 

 of burnt brick, and numerous foundations are visible on all sides near 

 the Gromati River. Several carved stones have been collected by the 

 people from the ruined walls of the fort of Garhd. Amongst them I 

 observed the following : — 1st, a broken pilaster with two human figures ; 

 2nd, a stone bracket ; 3rd, a square capital of pillar ; A-th, a four-bracket 

 capital of a pillar ; 5th, two stones with socket holes for iron cramps. 

 All of these stones point unmistakably to the existence, at some 

 former period, of a large temple at Dhopap, which was probably situa- 

 ted immediately above the bathing ghat. It seems almost certain, 

 however, that there must once have been a considerable number of 

 temples at this place, for the whole of the eastern wall or river front of 

 the fort of Garhd has been built or faced with square stones, which, 

 by their carvings and cramp-holes, show that they belonged to Hindu 

 temples. 



302. The fort of Garhd is situated to the north of the village, on a 

 lofty natural mound overhanging the river Gromati on the east. To 

 the north and south the place is defended by two deep ravines supplied 

 with running water, and to the west by a deep dry ravine. The posi- 

 tion is, therefore, a strong one ; for, although the neighbouring mounds 

 to the north and west rise to nearly the same height, yet they once 

 formed part of the city, which can only be approached over much low 

 and broken ground. The strength of the position wo\dd seem to 

 have early attracted the notice of the Muhainmadan Kings of Delhi, 



