392 KONARAK
figures of two elephants, each lifting up a man with his trunk, and of
two horses, richly caparisoned and led by warriors. Each gate was
faced by exquisite chlorite carvings, of which those of the eastern
gate are still in perfect preservation. Above this gate was an enormous
chlorite slab, bearing the figures of the nine planets, which is now
lying a little distance from the temple and has become an object of local
worship; and above this slab there was originally a statue of the Sun-
god, seated cross-legged in a niche. Along the plinth are eight wheels
and seven horses, carved in the stone, the temple being represented as
the car of the Sun-god drawn by his seven chargers. East of the
iuandap, or porch, stands a fine square building with four pillars inside,
which evidently was used as a dancing-hall, as the carvings on its
walls all represent dancing-girls and musicians. The wall of the
courtyard measures about 5oo by 300 feet ; and it originally contained
a number of smaller shrines and out-houses, of which only the remains
can now be traced. The entire courtyard till recently was filled with
sand; but since 1902 Government has carried on systematic excava-
tions, which have brought to light many hidden parts of the temple
itself and of other structures. The great tower of the temple collapsed
long ago, and at the present day forms a huge heap of débris west of
the porch ; but it is believed that about one-third of it will be found
intact below the broken stones, as soon as they have been removed.
In order to preserve the porch, it has been filled up with broken stones
and sand, and is now entirely closed from view; its interior was plain
and of little interest. In spite of its ruinous state, the temple still
forms one of the most glorious examples of Hindu architecture. Even
the fact that many of the carvings around its walls are repulsive to
European notions of decency cannot detract from the beauty of an
edifice of which Abul Fazl said that 'even those whose judgement is
critical and who are difficult to please, stood astonished at its sight.'
[Rajendralala Mitra, The Antiquities of Orissa (Calcutta, 1875,
1880) ; and the Reports of the Archaeological Survey of India for
1902-3 and 1903-4 (Calcutta, 1904, 1906).]
Kondalwadi.-Head-quarters of the paigdh tdluk of Kotgir in
Nizdmābād District, Hyderabad State, situated in 18° 48′ N. and
77° 46′ E., 28 miles north-west of Nizamabād and 9 miles west of the
confluence of the Godavari and Manjra rivers. Population (1go1),
6,557
Kondane.-Village in the Karjat tdluka of Kolāba District, Bombay,
situated in 18° 49′ N. and 73° 24′ E., about 4 miles south-east of
Karjat on the south-eastern line of the Great Indian Peninsula Rail-
way, and at the base of Rājmāchi hill. Population (1901), 158.
l-ondane has a group of early Buddhist caves (250 B. C.-A.D. 100) of
considerable interest. There are four caves, including the chaitya or
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