1848.] The Turaee and Outer Mountains of Kumaoon. 621 



\6th May. — To Pinnath temple and summit; home by the source 

 of the Kosilla ; which occupied lO-^ hours' actual walking. The route 

 to the temple, which is about half way up, follows a great spur, and 

 except in one place where steps have been cut to facilitate the approach, 

 is easy, with a deep glen on the left, through which flows the Deogar 

 stream to join the Kosilla at the village. The temples are scarce worth 

 visiting, but the site is pleasant ; a grassy expansion of the ridge, shad- 

 ed by some superb Kilonj oaks ; the first is a small conical structure, 

 8 or 10 feet high, dedicated to Bhyroo ; the main temple is close to 

 this on the north, a square, slated edifice, with the door facing the 

 south, and figures of rajas, &c, sculptured on the walls. The roof of 

 the portico is formed by the Indian arch, and on its sides are repre- 

 sented the five Pandoos ; the adytum is small, and contains nothing 

 but one or two images of Muhadev and Devee ; about 44 years since 

 the original pile was nearly all overthrown by an earthquake, which 

 sent most of the materials and apparatus bounding down the steep 

 glens to the Kosilla. The place is only frequented in the rainy season 

 and autumn, when in October, there is a mela. The want of water is 

 poorly supplied by a cistern and several wells, 12 or 15 feet deep, ex- 

 cavated in the rock, the contents of which are by no means inviting. 

 The elevation as given in the map, is 7,11 1 feet, which seems correct ; 

 but elsewhere (Asiatic Researches, &c.) Captain Webb quotes it at 

 7628 and 7700. So far, the rock is quartz, and slate, but onwards 

 quartz only, disposed in vast beds, the outcrop of which faces W. S. 

 W. forming crags which near the summit are rather difficult to climb 

 over. The area of this is not above fifteen feet across, with precipitous 

 glens all around, and an exceedingly narrow rocky ridge connecting it 

 with Bhut Kot, which seems about 500 feet higher, bearing S. W. 

 The Boora Pinnath range is continued N. W., in a very lofty and com- 

 paratively level spur, called Birchoola, not under 8000 feet, excessively 

 precipitous to the left, or W. S. W., but on the right sloping gently, 

 and clothed with dense forest of Pindrow fir and other alpine trees of 

 magnificent dimensions and verdure ; in this is the main source of the 

 Kosilla, which hence flows nearly due east for about 5 miles, its north 

 em bank being formed by the slopes of Gopalkot mountain, on 

 whose craggy summit the Kutyoora rajas had a stronghold in which 

 their treasures were deposited. The waters between Bhut Kot and 



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