f.2 Ramesvara Cave, Cave 21, Ellora. 'Rameshwur. Ellora. Septr 15'.

Wash drawing of the interior of Rameshvara, Cave 21 at Ellora, from an Album of 83 drawings; 80 of landscapes and antiquities in the northem Deccan, 2 portraits and 1 flower study made during a tour chiefly to Ellora, Rauza, Daulatabad, Aurangabad and Ajanta. September to November 1849. Although the artist is unidentified, these drawings are of some interest since they show the state of the Ajanta and Ellora Caves soon after the Royal Asiatic Society had brought them to the Company's notice in 1844. Robert Gill had been deputed to make a record of Ajanta in 1846 and was presumably on the spot when these sketches were made.The spectacular site of Ellora, in Maharashtra, is famous for its series of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples excavated into the rocky façade of a cliff of basalt. The works were done under the patronage of the Kalachuri, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta dynasties between the sixth and the ninth centuries. The Hindu cave of Rameshvara was excavated in the late 6th century. The cave is adorned with a series of finely executed, fully modelled sculptures. A courtyard with Nandi seated on a plinth on the middle and side shrines leads to the verandah. Large figural panel in the verandah depicts various scenes in which Shiva and Parvati are involved. This drawing depicts part of the interior of the verandah with massive pillars with suare and fluted shafts ornate with scrollwork and carved medallions. The sanctuary doorway flanked by large guardian figures of dvarapalas can be seen behind the pillars.