104 UDAIPUR CITY
Of places of interest in the neighbourhood of Udaipur may be
mentioned Eklingji, situated in a narrow defile 12 miles to the north.
Here in the eighth century Bapa Rawal constructed a temple to
Mahadeo, who is worshipped under the epithet of Ekling, that is, ° with
one lingam.' The original building was destroyed by the Muham-
madans, but was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The temple is of
unusual design, having a double storeyed porch and sanctuary, the
former covered by a flat pyramidal roof composed of many hundred
circular knobs, and the latter roofed by a lofty tower of more than
ordinary elaboration. Inside the temple is a four-faced image of
Mahadeo made of black marble. Since Bapa Rawal's time, the chief
of Mewar has been Diwan or vice-regent of Eklingji, and as such,
when he visits the temple, supersedes the high priest in his duties and
performs the ceremonies. A picturesque lake lies in the vicinity, and
numerous other temples stand close by, that built in the sixteenth
century by Miran Bai, the wife of Bhoj Raj, son of Sangram Singh,
being of singular elegance. Close to Eklingji is Nagda or Nagahrida,
one of the most ancient places in Mewar. Here the Maharana's
ancestors ruled for seven generations till the time of Bapa. The
principal temples are the Sas Bahu pair, said to be as old as the
eleventh century, and dedicated to Vishnu. They are most beautifully
carved, and adorned with artistic figures and sculpture in the very best
taste. The Jain temple known as Adbudji's is remarkable only for
the great size of the images it contains, the largest, that of Santinath,
being 6" feet by 4 feet.
[The quotations from Mr. Fergusson are taken from his Picturesque
Illustrations of Ancient Architecture (1848).]
Udaipur Village.-Head-quarters of the division of the same name
in the State of Hill Tippera, Eastern Bengal and Assam, situated in
z3° 31' N. and g1° Zg' E. It is the old capital of the State, and
abounds in ruins and possesses enormous tanks now overgrown with
jungle. The temple of Tripureswari is, with one exception, the most
important in this part of Eastern Bengal, and is visited by thousands
of pilgrims from all parts of the Province. It dates from the beginning
of the sixteenth century.
Udaipur Town.-Principal town of a subdivision of the Shekhawati
nizamat of the State of Jaipur, Rajputana, situated in 27' 44' N. and
75' 29' E., about 6o miles north-by-north-west of Jaipur city. Though
unfortified except by a few towers in ruins, the town is strong by
situation, commanding a narrow and rocky defile through the Aravalli
Hills, which in this neighbourhood attain a height exceeding 3,000
feet above the sea. Population (igor), 8,638. A considerable body
of the Naga militia of the Jaipur State are quartered in the town; and
it was here that, in the old days of their confederacy, the barons
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