The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.219

v2.c17.s1.219

The plinth of both buildings is of the same height : 6 feet. Originally it was formed of bands and pannels but these have since been covered by a berm on each side, north and south. The front of the berm is perfectly plain, having only an indented moulding at the upper edge (see plate LIV). The remains of the old mouldings are partially visible on the west side. The body of the temple rises to a height of 35 feet above the plinth and all above it forms the spire. The body of the porch is slightly lower, being 31 ft. 6 in., and is protected by a cornice projecting 5 feet at a right angle from the upright wall. The pyramidal roof over it, formed of two sets of tiers as at Bhuvaneśvara, and set off with crests, comes almost to the outer edge of the cornice. This was a weak arrangement and in the absence of brackets, dentils or other mechanical support, the cornice some time ago broke down and had to be repaired [ 117 ] and trussed up with slanting iron bars, covered with plaster and modelled into caryatids. These are excessively ugly and not at all in keeping with the rest of the building.