10 Account of Captain Hodgson’s Journey to the 
rally along the side of the mountain, with occasional strong 
ascents and descents ; 1 mile 5 furlongs of very steep descent 
into a dell, the rest lighter descent, flat and ascent from a rivu- 
let to Lakha Mandate on the right bank of the Jumna , and 
about 300 feet above it. 
“ Lakha Mandat is a place of some celebrity, in Hindu 
story, as having been one of the temporary residences of the 
Pandus ; and tradition says, that formerly there was a great 
number of statues and temples here ; but I imagine the greater 
part to have been buried by the slip of the side of the mountain, 
at the foot of which it is situated. Several pieces of cornices, 
entablatures, and other ornamental fragments of buildings, are 
seen projecting above the soil, which buries the remainder ; they 
are of black stone, and the carving of the ornaments is very well 
executed. There are also two statues of Bhim and Arjun, of 
the size of life, which are half buried in the soil ; and a prodigi- 
ous number of small idols are deposited in a little temple, which 
is the only one now remaining, and which does not appear to be 
of any remote antiquity. The ignorant Brahman could give 
no account of the builder ; he declared, as they all do, when 
consulted on such subjects, that it is not of human workman- 
ship, but was built by Bhim, countless ages ago. 
u It does not appear that pilgrims now resort here ; the 
place is nearly desolate ; it is surrounded by high rocky peaks, 
and may have been chosen as a fit seat for gloomy and recluse 
superstition. 
“ Within the temple, there is a large slab of blue stone, in- 
scribed with Hindu characters ; I cleaned it, and took off* a re- 
versed impression, as well as circumstances would allow, and sent 
it to Colonel Mackenzie. Lat. of Lakha Mandat 30° 43' 24." 
Laid ha Mandat to Bencauli. — Distance 3 miles 5 furlongs. 
Gradual descent 1^ miles to the Ricnar river, which is the 
boundary between Sirmor , and the Rewaen district of Gurtizval 
It has a course of about 10 miles from the NW-., and joins the 
Jumna here. From the river, a very strong ascent of mile 
up the mountain, to a crest called Genda Ghat ; three obliquing 
to Bancaidi , a village of twenty houses, with a temple ; — it is on 
the mountain’s side, and about 3000 feet above the Jumna . 
