The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c8.s6.11

c8.s6.11

The method of roofing the halls of these temples is worthy of notice. The central nave is covered over with great flat slabs lying across from one architrave to the other, and the side aisles are covered by similar slabs which slope downward to the outer walls. As the stones are not so closely and smoothly dressed as to make the joints watertight, the joints are covered by long narrow stones. To prevent water running in under these to the joints, they are hollowed below, while the two adjacent edges of the roof slabs are grooved to receive them. The one thus lies over and fits into the other like the half pot tiles in ordinary native roofing.