History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c18.s2.2

v1.c18.s2.2

By far the finest and most typical example of the Kashmîri style is the temple of Mârtând, situated about 5 miles east of Islâmâbâd, the old capital of the valley. It is the architectural lion of Kashmîr, and all tourists think it necessary to go into raptures about its beauty and magnificence, comparing it to Palmyra or Thebes, or other wonderful groups of ruins of the old world. Great part, however, of the admiration it excites is due to its situation. It stands well on an elevated plateau, from which a most extensive view is obtained, over a great part of the valley. No tree or house interferes with its solitary grandeur, and its ruins—shaken down apparently by an earthquake—lie scattered as they fell, and, unobscured by vegetation, they are the most impressive remains of early Kashmîr architecture; nor are they vulgarised by any modern accretions. Add to this the mystery that hangs over their origin, and a Western impress on its details—unusual in the East—but which calls back the memory of familiar forms and suggests memories that throw a veil of poetry over its history more than sufficient to excite admiration in the most prosaic spectators. When, however, we come to reduce its dimensions to scale (Woodcut No. 145), and to examine its pretensions to rank among the great examples of architectural art, the rhapsodies of which it has been the theme seem a little out of place.