BAIJNATH TEMPLE

Both the south and north wall of the mandapa are adorned with a graceful balcony window. The four corners are strengthened by means of massive buttress-like projections in the shape of half-engaged - miniature sikhara temples, each containing two niches in which image slabs are placed. Smaller niches in slightly projecting chapels are found between the corner projections and the entrance and balcony windows.

Cunningham and Fergusson that the Baijnath temple had undergone a thorough restoration at the bands of Raja Sansar Chand Katoch (A.D. 1776-1824) assumed it. But Sir Aurel Stein, who had the advantage of personally inspecting the temple in December, 1892, expressed the opinion that the building "has not under gone such very great alterations as the earlier describers state.

" He points out, that the doorway of the adytum. is still decorated with the images of the river goddesses mentioned in the inscription. Only the roof seems to be modern; and according to the - statements of the local priests - it was renovated in the days of Raja Sansar Chand II.

The temple of Baijnath, although situated at no great distance from the centre of the earthquake of the 4th April, 1905, suffered but slight injury from that catastrophe. The neighboring smaller temple of Sidhnath, on the contrary, completely collapsed.

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