(Photos) Plate 6. Carved shaft of both orders of columns in front of the cave

Plate 6. Carved shaft of both orders of columns in front of the cave

Pen and ink and watercolour drawing by Frederick Charles Maisey of the carved columns in front of the cave temple of Nilakanth at Kalinjar, from an album of 60 drawings dated 1847-1854.Situated atop an almost impregnable 1000-foot-high hill, with cliffs on all sides, Khalinjar was an ancient stronghold of the Chandella rulers of Bundelkhand from the 9th to the 15th centuries; it was later conquered by Akbar in 1569 and fell to Colonel Martindell in 1812.

Within the fort there are numerous archaeological remains. From a gateway in the preserved inner curtain wall two flights of steps lead down to Kalinjar's holiest shrine, the Nilakanth Temple. There are numerous inscriptions and rock carvings on the way down to the shrine and masterpieces of Chandella sculpture.

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Courtesy: Europeana.eu