History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s17.17

v2.c25.s17.17

The other vaulted temple, above alluded to, is that of Harideva, at Govardhan, 12 miles west from Mathurâ, and built by Râja Bhagwândâs of Amber, under the same tolerant influence during the reign of Akbar. It is a plain edifice 135 ft. long by 35 ft. in width externally, and both in plan and design singularly like those early Romance churches that are constantly met with in the south of France, belonging to the 11th and 12th centuries. If, indeed, the details are not too closely looked into, it might almost pass muster for an example of Christian art at that age,² while except in scale the plan of the porch at Brindâban bears a most striking resemblance to that of St. Front at Perigeux.³ The similarity is accidental, of course; but it is curious that architects so distant in time and place should hit so nearly on the same devices to obtain certain desired effects.