Report of the Archaeological Survey. 



Ixv 



tomb of Altamish. The building is a square of 34| feet inside, and 

 56^ feet outside, the walls being 11 feet thick. On each side there is 

 a lofty doorway, with a pointed horse-shoe arch ; the outer edge of 

 the arch being fretted, and the underside panelled. The corners of 

 the square are cut off by bold niches, the head of each niche being 

 formed by a series of five pointed horse-shoe arches, lessening in size 

 as they retire towards the angle. The effect of this arrangement is 

 massive and beautiful, and justly merits the praise which Mr. Fer- 

 gusson # has bestowed upon it, as " more simply elegant than any 

 other Indian example with which he was acquainted." The interior 

 walls are decorated with a chequered pattern of singular beauty. In 

 each corner there are two windows, of the same shape and style as 

 the doorways, but only one-third of their size. These are closed by 

 massive screens of marble lattice- work. The exterior walls are panel- 

 led and inlaid with broad bands of white marble, the effect of which 

 is certainly pleasing. The walls are crowned by a battlemented 

 parapet and surmounted by a hemispherical dome. For the exterior 

 view of the building this dome is, perhaps, too low, but the interior 

 view is perfect, and, taken altogether, I consider that the gateway of 

 Ala-uddin is the most beautiful specimen of Pathan architecture that 

 I have seen. 



122. The unfinished Miliar of Ala-uddin stands due north from 

 the Kutb Minar at a distance of 425 feet. This massive pillar is 

 built wholly of the rough shapeless grey stone of the country, and 

 the surface is so uneven, that there can be no doubt it was the Archi- 

 tect's intention either to have faced it with red stone, or to have 

 covered it with plaster. The Minar stands upon a plinth 4f feet in 

 width, and the same in height, which is raised upon a terrace 21 feet 

 in breadth and 7i in height.. The rough mass of the superstructure 

 is 257 feet in circumference, and 82 feet in diameter ; but with a fac- 

 ing of red stone, this diameter would have been increased to at least 

 85 feet, or nearly double that of the Kutb Minar, as is usually stated 

 by the people. The entrance is on the east side, and on the north, at 

 same height, there is a window intended to light the spiral stair-case. 

 But the steps were never commenced, and there is only a circular 

 passage 9 feet 9 inches wide around the central pillar, which is 26 feet 

 in diameter. The thickness of the outer wall is 18 feet 3 inches the 

 * Handbook of Architecture, I. 433 



