KYLAS, alias Paradise, (aspect, west.) This won derful place is approached more handsomely than any of the foregoing, and exhibits a very fine front in an area cut through the rock. On the right hand side of the entrance is a cistern of very fine water. On each side of the gateway there is a projection reaching to the first story, with much sculpture and handsome battlements, which, however, have suffered much from the corroding hand of time. The gateway is very spacious and fine, furnished with apartments on each side that are now usually added to the dewries of the eastern palaces. Over the gate is a balcony, which seems intended for the Nobut Khanneh. On the outside of the upper story of the gateway are pillars that have much the appearance of a Grecian order. The passage through the gateway below is richly adorned with sculpture, in which appear Bouannee Ushtbooza on the right, and Gunnes on the left. From the gateway you enter a vast area cut down through the solid rock of the mountain, to make room for an immense temple of the complex pyramidal form, whose wonderful structure, variety, profusion, and mi nuteness of ornament, are too minute for description. This temple, which is excavated front the upper region of the rock, and appears like a grand building, is con nected with the gateway by a bridge left out of the rock as the mass of the mountain was excavated. Beneath this bridge, at the end opposite the entrance, there is a figure of Bouannee sitting on a lotus, and two elephants with their trunks joined, as though fighting over her head. On each side of the passage under the bridge, is an elephant, marked (a) in the Plan, one of which has lost its head, the other its trunk, and both are much shortened of their height by earth. There are likewise ranges of apartments on each side behind the elephants, of which those on the left arc much the finest, being handsomely decorated with figures. Advanced in the area, beyond the elephants, are tu o obelisks (b) of a square form, handsomely graduated to the commence ment of the capitals, which seem to have been crowned with ornaments, but they are not extant, though, from the remains of the left band one, I judge them to have been a single lion on each.
To preserve scme order, and thereby render easier the description of this great and complex work, we shall, af ter mentioning that on each side of the gateway within there is an abundance of sculpture, all damaged by time, proceed to describe the parts of the centre structure ; and then returning to the right side, enumerate its parts; when, taking the left hand, we shall terminate the whole in a description of the end of the area opposite to the gateway, and behind the grand temple, exemplifying the whole by references to the annexed plan.
Centre below. Passing through the gateway (1) be low, you enter the area (2), and proceeding under a small bridge, pass a solid square (3) mass, which sup ports the Bull Nundee stationed above : the sides of this recess are profusely sculptured with pillars and figures of various forms. Having passed it, you come to the passage under another small bridge, beneath which there is, on one side, a gigantic figure of the Rajah Bhoj, sur rounded by a groupe of other figures, opposite to which is a gigantic figure of Guttordhuj, with his ten hands. At each end of this short passage commences the of the grand temple (4), the excavation of which is in the upper story, that is here ascended by flights of steps on each side (5).
Right and left hand sides of the temple below. The right hand side is adorned with a very full and complex sculpture of the battle of Ram and Rouon, in which Hunomaun makes a very conspicuous figure. Proceed ing from this field of battle, the heads of elephants, lions, and some imaginary animals, are projected as though supporting the temple, till you come to a projec tion (6), in the side of which, sunk in the rock, is a large groupe of figures, but much mutilated. This pro jection was connected with the apartments on the right hand side of the area by a bridge (7), which has given way, and the ruins of it now fill up the sides of the area. It is said to be upwards of 100 years since it fell.