The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s12.161.4

c8.s12.161.4

Storey above storey they are backed by the crag and face the valley (water-course).² This convent was built by the Arhat Achâra (O'-che-lo).³ Going from this 1000 li or so to the west,⁴ and crossing the Nai-mo-to (Narmadâ) river, we arrive at the kingdom of Po-lu-kie-che-po (Bharukachheva; Barygaza or Bharôch). There can be no doubt that the latter part of the preceding description refers to the rock-cut Buddhist caves in the glen near Ajantâ in the Nizâm's Dominions;⁵ the towering crags, the piled up rocks and scarped precipice, the dark valley, and the lofty halls and deep side-aisles, facing the valley, and backed storey above storey by the crags, represent most closely the surroundings of the Ajantâ caves, and apparently those of no other in any admissible locality. But, as regards the town which Hiuen Tsiang has spoken of as the capital, there has been considerable speculation. Now, the real capital of the Western Chalukya dynasty was, as we have seen, Bâdâmi. Its surroundings, however, do not answer to the description given by the Chinese pilgrim; and also, it is under any circumstances inadmissible, because its distance from Broach, 435 miles, is altogether incommensurate with the distance of 1000 li or about 167 miles, which is specified by him as the distance from the so-called capital.