[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 24.1.5 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 24.1.5 Travels in India (Ball) 24.1.5 - **Language:** English ### [24.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1.5) It is about fifty years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town ; it will be the grandest in all India if it should be completed. The size of the stones is a subject for special astonishment, and that of the niche, which is the place for prayer, is an entire rock, of so enormous a size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and they employed 500 or 600 men continually on this work. It required still more time to roll it upon the conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they told me that it took 1400 oxen to draw it. I shall explain why the work is incomplete. If it had been finished it would have justly passed for the noblest edifice in the whole of Asia. On the other side of the town, from whence one goes to Masulipatam, there are two large tanks, each of them being about a coss in circuit, upon which you see some decorated boats intended for the pleasure of the King, and along the banks many fine houses which belong to the principal officers of the court. At three coss from the town there is a very fine mosque where there are the tombs of the Kings of Golconda; and every day at 4 o’clock p.m. bread and palao are given to all the poor who present themselves. When you wish to see something really beautiful, you should go to see these tombs on the day of a festival, for then, from morning to evening, they are covered with rich carpets. - [Previous: 24.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1.4) - [Next: 24.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1.6) - [Up: 24.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.24.1.5) · Pramāṇa