Читать книгу Views in India, chiefly among the Himalaya Mountains онлайн

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The river Ganges, in its progress through the plains, waters many spots of remarkable beauty, but in the whole course of its brilliant career it can scarcely boast a more splendid landscape than that in which the rocks of Janghera form so prominent a feature. Standing boldly out in the stream, near a place called Sultangunge, in the province of Behar, this picturesque pile forms a grand and beautiful object; it consists of several masses of grey granite heaped one upon the other in a very picturesque manner, and forming ledges and terraces which are the sites of several small temples. In some places a crevice in the rock has afforded room for the roots of a magnificent tree to expand, and to crown with bright foliage the romantic height.

Janghera is supposed, in former times, to have been united by an isthmus to the shore; but the rapid river continually rolling down, has worn a passage for itself between, and the rock is now completely isolated. This place has been considered, during many ages, to be particularly holy; and, accordingly, from time immemorial fakeers have established themselves upon it, deriving a considerable revenue from the donations of the pious voyagers of the river. A ghaut or landing-place has been constructed at the back of this rock, and rude stairs conduct the pilgrims who are desirous to perform their orisons at the hallowed shrine, to the pagoda at the summit dedicated to Naryan, who figures as the principal deity of the place. There is an idol of him in the temple that crowns this beautiful pile, and his image, together with those of Vishnu, Sceva, and others, is carved in different parts of the rock.