1869.] Some Observations on the Temples of '" Razdan" 177 



Some Observations on the Temples of" Razdan" or " Razdoing" in the 

 " Lar" Pergunnah, Cashmere. By Lieut. -Col. J). F. New-all, K. A. 



(With 3 Plates.) 



I now proceed to afford as much information as I possess of the 

 group of temples called ' Razdan' or ' Razdoiug' by the inhabitants of 

 the Lar valley in Cashmere. 



These extensive ruins, certainly the next to those of Martund in im- 

 portance — if not even more extensive in the superficial space occupied 

 by them, — are the only group not described by Cunningham in his 

 learned and masterly essay on the Arian order of Architecture, 

 printed in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal for Septem- 

 ber, 1848. Before proceeding to put on paper my own speculations 

 regarding them, I will transcribe verbatim the memorandum I find in 

 my journal on the occasion of my visiting and measuring these ruins 

 on the 24th, 25th, 26th September, 1852. I must premise, however, 

 by stating that they are overgrown with dense underwood and large 

 forest trees, and it was only after much labour and the employment 

 of many hands in cutting away the jungle that I was able to collect 

 the following data. 1 transcribe from my journal therefore, " Descrip- 

 tion of the Razdan or Razdoing ruins under the Boodshere Hill in 

 the Ldr pergunnah of Cashmere." 



(1.) They consist of two principal temples connected by the re- 

 mains of a paved causeway and several connecting buildings, clois- 

 ters, &c. 



(2.) The Northern temple, of which the roof has fallen in, is 

 31^ feet square and has been surrounded by cloisters 160' X 120' 

 in measurement. The interior chamber is 14 J' square. In its front 

 is a stone reservoir 11' X 6J' feet of a very peculiar construction, 

 and the use of which is not quite obvious, unless it has served as one 

 of those vats from which charitable brahmins were wont to distribute 

 rice, &c, to the poor." (Vide Plate III. J 



There are several small buildings grouped around it. The one 

 sketched was probably at the entrance and is about 20 feet wide. At 

 the north-west angle of this temple is the Nara Nag, a small lake or 

 24 



