The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.18

v2.c16.18

**Rani Naur :—** Standing between the Government bungalow and the modern *maṭh*, the visitor has before him to the west a steep flight of steps leading to the top of Khaṇḍagiri, and a small group of caves to the right at the foot of Udayagiri. He will find it more convenient, however, to leave these unnoticed, and walking on round the *maṭh* to the east over some jungle and brush-wood, a little behind the aforesaid caves, to begin with the easternmost and by far the most elaborate and sumptuous excavation in Orissa. It is called differently by different persons, Rānī Naur or “Queen’s Palace” by some, Rānī Gumphā, “Queen's Cave” or Rānī-antaḥpur, corrupted by the common people to Ranihāñsapur, the “Queen’s Chambers” by others. It consists of a two-storeyed monastery covering three sides of a quadrangle, the fourth or south-eastern side being open. The quadrangle, (Plate II) measures 49 x 24 feet. The left wing, however, after a turn inwards, extends in an oblique direction outwards much beyond the limit of the right wing, and if the whole area included by it be reckoned as a part of the court-yard, as it probably did when first excavated, the enclosure would measure 49 x 43 feet. It is formed of the original rock cut smooth with a gentle slope towards the open side. Some undressed stones and rubble lie along its outer edge, and at one time formed a sort of partition wall, but this was probably long after the completion of the excavation. The original design, it would seem, included a Buddhist rail or wall with an entrance gate in the middle. Owing to the place being lumbered with huge, loose stones and covered over with jungle, I could not, however, trace the situation of the rail and the gate.