I860.] Notes on sortie of the Temples of Kashmir. Ill 



August. (Plate XIX.) In the winter, I was told, the building 

 stands on dry ground. At other seasons the whole is sometimes below 

 the surface of the lake. 



The roof is very like that of the Payach temple,* being broken into 

 two distinct portions by an ornamental band ; each portion being 

 formed of a single stone. The upper stone is 5 feet square at its 

 base, and is plain on all sides. The ornamental bandf is like that of 

 Payach, divided into spaces alternately projecting and retiring. The 

 latter are square and occupied by the lotus ; but the projecting ends 

 are carved into upright mouldings, slightly rounded at top and 

 bottom, and surmounted by a straight and horizontal band. The 

 north, south, and east sides of the lower portion of the roof are 

 plain. The top seems to have been crowned by a melon-like 

 ornament, of winch the base only remains. 



The temple appears to be a square of about 6 feet, and has only 

 one doorway, to the west, covered by a pyramidal pediment, which 

 is divided into two portions by a horizontal return of the side 

 mouldings, as in the case of the Marttand colonnade. J The upper 

 portion is occupied by the head and shoulders of a figure holding a 

 sort of staff in the left hand, and with something, which I could not make 

 out, under the left arm. (See Plate XIX.) In the niche (like those at 

 Payach§) formed by the trefoil over the doorway, there is a sitting 

 figure, holding a sort of club in the left hand. The angles of the lower 

 portion of the doorway pediment, below the horizontal moulding and 

 above the trefoil, are occupied each with a naked figure leaning against 

 the head of the trefoil, and holding up over the arch a sort of waving 

 scarf, which is passed on through their other hands. 



Lanka. 



On Lanka island there are the ruins of a very fine temple. Its 

 ground plan appears to have been a square of 34J- feet, with a sort of 

 antechamber to the S. E. E., which is 11 feet wide, including the 

 walls. The latter are 2 T 5 T feet thick. This antechamber projects 

 5f feet beyond the walls of the Naos. The exterior walls of the 

 temple are ornamented with two rows of deep niches with cinq-foiled 



* See Cunningham, plate No. XII. J See Cunningham, plate No. XVI. 

 f See Cunningham, plate No. XII, § See Cunningham, plate No. XII.. 



