The Rock-cut Temples of India/The Caves of Ajunta/Verandah, Cave No. 21—Ajunta
VERANDAH, CAVE No. 21.—AJUNTA.
RETURNING to the southern end, the next Cave (No. 21) is a large Vihara 51 ft. 6 in. by 52 ft. 6 in. but not quite finished, the pillars of the sanctuary being merely blocked out.
In style and detail it is very similar to the Cave No. 2, at the other end, showing the same exuberance of ornament, but with the same weakness of design and detail.
Besides the sanctuary, there are four chapels in this Cave, one on each side and one at each end of the two aisles, and all of these have two pillars in antis. Their frequency, and the mode in which they have superseded the residential cells, show only too clearly how the original idea of the Vihara was becoming lost at the time when this one was excavated.
Two chapels at the ends of the verandah still also remain, one of which is represented in the above view, and though the pillars of the front of the verandah are gone, the end pier on both sides remains, marking its dimensions and showing the character of its details.