Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/89

CHAP. III. TOWER OF CHITOR. 61 faced at Palitana seems certainly to have been erected in its present form in 1618, and is a very grand and beautiful example of the style. 1 The temple, too, of Adtrwar Bhagavan, which is the largest single temple on that hill, seems to have assumed its present form in 1530, though parts of it may be older. At least, it is certain that an older temple stood on the spot, though not with the fabulous antiquity ascribed to it by the priests, and credulously repeated by Colonel Tod. 2 Though deficient in the extreme grace and elegance that characterised the earlier examples, those of the middle style are bold and vigorous specimens of the art, and still show an originality and an adherence to the traditions of the style, and a freedom from any admixture of foreign elements, which cannot be predicated of the modern style that succeeded it. 3 1 Burgess, ' ^atrunjaya,' p. 20, and photographs 6-12; the plan of this temple is given ante, Woodcut No. 278, p. 28. 2 Tod's ' Travels in Western India,' pp. 280, 281. 3 For Chitor, see 'Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat and Rajputana,' pp. 33-35 and plates 19-21 ; Dr. J. F. Stratton's ' Chitor and the Mewar family,' pp. 76 - 99 ; ' Archaeological Survey of India Reports,' vol. xxiii. pp. 101-124, and plates 20-25 5 G. Le Bon, ' Les Monuments de 1'Inde, 1 pp. 99f. and figs. 99-104 ; and Workman, ' Through Town and Jungle in India,' pp. 305-311.