Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c9.s3.2

c9.s3.2

There is one group of shrines which, on account of their better preservation than the rest, and that in one of them is a finely engraved and important inscription, might be considered the principal group. This cluster contains six distinct buildings, which, at some time subsequent to the erection of the last, have been surrounded by a wall with an entrance gateway on the south. The largest, which we may call No. 1, faces the east and, like No. 5 at Balsāne, has an open front and verandah; in fact, they all have this open verandah in place of a porch. It consists of the shrine, with a pillared hall before it, and a deep pillared verandah before this again. The exterior of the temple is remarkably plain, the only decoration being a series of simple mouldings with a few fretwork bands running round it. This peculiar style of surface ornament, which takes the place of the panels and figure bands in the earlier examples, is seen more developed in the temples at Ratanvādi and Sangameśvara, and, combined with figures, in Chāngdeva and Tahākāri. The śikhara is in the northern style, but is plain, the main features being only blocked out.