Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c13.s3.1

c13.s3.1

Mehkar is about forty-five miles to the south-east of Buldāna. At the north-west corner of the town, overlooking the river, and enclosed within a mud-walled enclosure, is a partly ruined old *dharmaśālā* or travellers' rest-house, which, in the past, has been badly used. Much of the building has fallen since it was photographed by Major Gill over fifty years ago, and many of its pillar shafts are scattered about the town, several being near the market place. This *dharmaśālā* was, perhaps, a subsidiary building to an important temple, possibly Jaina, which stood near and above it, but which has now disappeared. The foundation or retaining walls of the site upon which the temple stood can be seen running round the *dharmaśālā*, and from it right up to the town gate, a little way to the east of it. At first sight, the wall here looks like a portion of the town wall, but it is not so, though it may have done duty for such in later times. A town wall would not have a series of horizontal offsets forming ledges all the way up its outer side, by which an enemy could easily climb up. Moreover the wall is of the Hindu period, while the present gate is of the Muhammadan. (Plate CIII and CIX.)