An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s10: 14.10 Ghāts
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s10
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14.10 Ghāts
v1.c19.s10.1
Though many of the *ghāts* now in existence on the banks of sacred rivers may have had a long history, the archaeological evidence of *ghāts* is confined to only two sites—NĀGĀRJUNAKOṆḌA and YELLESWARAM, situated on the banks of the river Krishna, where they were used mostly for religious purposes.
v1.c19.s10.2
Of the *ghāts* at NĀGĀRJUNAKOṆḌA, all of the 3rd century, the most imposing was the one in front of the Puṣpabhadrasvāmin temple. This massive structure, built of brick in lime mortar, was cased entirely with Cuddapah slabs. The gradient was divided into at least ten spacious treads, each one interconnected by three or four flights of steps at regular intervals. A long flight of steps descended down into the water of the river from the centre of the lowest tread. When the water receded during lean seasons, extension with only four treads could be used, as it was built in still lower gradients. Apart from this bathing *ghāt*, there were at least two more *ghāts* on the river-bank: one of them, close to what has been identified as the burning *ghāt*, was an improvised structure in which limestone pillars, one containing an inscription of the Sātavāhana king Gautamīputra Vijaya Sātakarṇi, was used as steps and banisters. The other example, a small flight of steps, beautifully paved with stones was at the back of the Sarvadeva temple, which was located close to a huge masonry tank having continuous flights of steps but not edged with stones on all the sides.
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A bathing *ghāt*, forming part of the Yelleśvarasvāmin temple-complex of the 8th or 9th century was exposed at YELLESWARAM opposite NĀGĀRJUNAKOṆḌA. Divided into 20 long and narrow steps covering in all a tread of 46.5 cm, it has no interconnecting flights to setps. Though encased with Cuddapah slabs it was by no means as impressive as the chief one at NĀGĀRJUNAKOṆḌA. Inscriptions on stone slabs in Telugu characters generally record the paying of obeisance to the river Krishna by pilgrims.
v1.c19.s10.4
For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—H. SARKAR