THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



149 



CHAPTER IV. 

 DESCRIPTIVE NOTES OF THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



After many years' employment in the Madras Presidency 

 I was in 1880 at last able to visit The Seven Pagodas, and to 

 spend the mornings and evenings of three days in examining 

 the rock-cut antiquities there. 



The following pages are the result of notes made on the 

 spot during my stay at the Seven Pagodas and of a subse- 

 quent examination of the photographs I have been able to 

 get, combined with a partial re-perusal of Carr's book. The 

 latter being now out of print I have incorporated some of the 

 scanty information contained in the accounts of Lieutenant 

 Braddock and Kavali Lakshmayya, and hope that the guide 

 which I drew up for my own use, in the hope of a second and 

 more leisurely visit, may prove useful to others. 



There is a great deal more of the greatest interest to be 

 said about the place, and I am only too well aware how little 

 justice I have done to these beautiful and unique specimens 

 of ancient art in what I have now said. I have no doubt 

 that careful observation, and the patient investigation of 

 some competent oriental scholar, would elucidate many facts 

 concerning the history of the former inhabitants of the 

 south of India and their religion and rulers, which would 

 well repay the requisite labour. 



Pipiiti Amman Temple. 



{Madras Survey Map No. 1.) 



1. About 170 yards east from the East Coast Canal landing 

 place, and where the foot-path to the village of Mavalivaram and 

 to the north end of the rocks leaves the cart-track, a small temple 



