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Architectural Remains, [No. 11, NEW series. 



height : surmounted by one central tower, and a smaller one on 

 each flank : the basement measures 150 feet by 50. The walls 

 are of cut granite : the lower story of large blocks, and these di- 

 minishing in size in the 2nd and 3rd stories : the towers being 

 built of brick. Each story has the little old windows opening on 

 small balconies ; the latter are falling to pieces. The lower part 

 of the building from its massive structure is in good preservation ; 

 the upper brick and plaster work, showing the effects of age : this 

 portion is highly ornamental, and a sum of llupees 500 might be 

 laid out in arresting the progress of decay. A smaller Palace of 

 the Rani's adjoining, is much more of a ruin, and has not the same 

 pretensions to architectural beauty. By local tradition it is stated 

 that the Raja Venkatapati Devu Maharajulu, constructed these 

 edifices in the 15th century. 



4. At Irinjipijram. — There is a large Pagoda built of fine 

 cut stone, in good preservation. There are fine carvings on the 

 walls, but beyond the size of the building ; there is not much to 

 attract attention. On the west face, there are the marks of shot 

 which struck the building in the battle which was fought near the 

 spot. 



5. The Tirupati Pagoda from its sacred character, being a 

 resort of pilgrims from all parts of the country, is an object of in- 

 teresting investigation. The Pagoda is jealously guarded, so that 

 an European is not allowed within a considerable distance ; it is 

 built in a hollow of the hills about seven miles from the town of 

 Tirupati. There are three gateways leading to the Pagoda, through 

 the first on the ascent from the town, only Hindus are allowed to 

 pass, all other castes being excluded. One of the incarnations of 

 Vishtnu, the serpent Sesha is supposed to have been transformed 

 into the Tirupati Hill ; hence pilgrims prostrate themselves to the 

 ground, on their first view of the hill. The idol, a personification 

 of Vishtnu, worshipped under a thousand different names, is an 

 erect stone figure, seven feet high with four arms. The Brah- 

 mans assign a fabulous antiquity to the Pagoda, that it was erected 

 in the commencement of the " age of contention" of which nearly 

 5,000 years have elapsed. The name of the founder is handed 

 down, as Tandiman Chakravarti, a Raja of Tirupati. The crowds 



