CHUNAR GHUR. 
197 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Chunar Ghur, the place represented in the ac- 
companying engraving, presents one of the most 
striking scenes on the Ganges. Its projecting wall 
and towers, which seem to contest the passage of the 
mighty stream, and rise out of it to a commanding 
height above the surrounding plain, are features which 
strongly arrest the travellers eye in passing up or down 
this venerated river. The architecture, though quite 
in the Hindoo style, is much unlike that generally 
found in the neighbourhood ; it is massy and im- 
posing, conveying an idea of prodigious strength, with 
which elegance was no doubt originally very strikingly 
combined. The place is of great antiquity ; though it 
may be presumed that it was, to a certain extent, 
added to under the Afghan and Moghul domination. 
The town of Chunar, considerably below the fort and 
elevated but little above the plain, is situated on the 
south side of the Ganges, which washes its walls, 
and is about seventeen miles south-west of Benares. 
In ancient times it was a place of much importance, 
and had a large district attached to it ; but of late 
years, from various causes, and particularly from the 
unhealthiness of its situation, which is at certain sea- 
sons extremely fatal to the inhabitants, it has been 
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