An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c40.114

v2.c40.114

Monasteries IA, IB, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 have two levels each, while Monasteries 1, 4 and 7 have nine, six and three respectively. They are usually squarish and are separated from each other by a passage. They were double-storeyed with staircase perhaps originally of wood, burnt sleepers having been found in excavation, but later on of concrete or stone. They follow the usual monastic plan [14.12] of a central court surrounded by a veranda on each side, beyond which are the monastic cells; the shrine, larger than the ordinary cells and projecting outside, is situated in the centre of the back row, usually fronted by a portico. The courtyards are paved with bricks, stone or concrete (jars with dried-up mortar and a cell used as a cistern in Monastery 11 are indicative of the preparation of concrete), though it appears that brick was the material for the earlier ones. The cells in Monastery 1 have corbelled doorways and vaulted roofs, while the entrances to cells in Monastery 10 have semicircular arches. Most of the cells have a single bed each (a brick platform along one of the walls) but some cells in Monastery 1 have two each. Some monasteries are thickly plastered and bear traces of painting.