History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c18.26

v1.c18.26

If we may thus get rid of these two anomalous and exceptional examples, the history of all the remaining temples in the valley is more than usually homogeneous and easily intelligible. The date of the principal example—the temple at Mârtând—is hardly doubtful (A.D. 750); and of the others, some may be slightly older, but none can be carried further back than the reign of Ranâditya, in the 6th century, if the temple founded by him at Simharotsikâ still exist.¹ Nor can any one be brought down below, say 1000, which is the latest date we can possibly assign to that of Pâyer.² Between these dates, with a very little local knowledge, the whole might easily be arranged. Such a classification is, however, by no means necessary at present. The style during these six centuries is so uniform that it may be taken as one, for the purposes of a general history.