History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s25: Ghâts or Landing-Places.
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s25
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Ghâts or Landing-Places.
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Another object of architectural magnificence peculiar to northern Hindustan, is the construction of the *ghâts* that everywhere line the river-banks in most of the great cities, more especially those which are situated on the Ganges. Benares possesses perhaps the greatest number of edifices of this class; but from Calcutta to Hardwâr no city is without some specimens of this species of architectural display. The Ghuslâ Ghât at Benares (Woodcut No. 365), though one of the most modern, may be taken as a fair specimen of the class, although many are richer and much more elaborately adorned. Their object being to afford easy access to bathers, the flight of steps in front is in reality the *ghât*, and the main object of the erection. These are generally broken, as in this instance, by small projections, often crowned by kiosks, which take off the monotony inherent in long lines of narrow steps. The flight of stairs is always backed by a building, which in most instances is merely an object of architectural display without any particular destination, except to afford shelter from the rays of the sun to such of the idle as choose to avail themselves of it. When the bank is high, the lower part of these buildings is solid, and when, as in this instance, it is nearly plain, it affords a
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365. Ghuslâ Ghât, Benares. (From Prinsep's Views.)
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noble basement to an ornamental upper storey, with which they are generally adorned, or to the temple which frequently crowns them.
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Though the Ganges is, *par excellence*, the river of ghâts, one of the most beautiful in India is that erected by Ahalyâ Bâî (Khânde Râo Holkar's widow) at Maheswar, on the Narbadâ; and Ujjain and other ancient cities almost rival Benares in this respect. Indeed, there is scarcely a tank or stream in all India that is without its flight of steps, and it is seldom indeed that these are left without some adornment or an attempt at architectural display, water being always grateful in so hot a climate, and an especially favourite resort with a people so fond of washing and so cleanly in their habits as the Hindûs. Of such there are abundant examples, such as the Kunda or pond before the Sûrya temple at Modherâ, the tanks at Vîramgâm, Kâpadvanj, and almost everywhere.