Ashwamedh

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

Although the ASI had taken up some preliminary excavations in the valley soon after their discovery, their actual concern for the preservation of the monuments began in the year 1954 with the laying of the foundation for the construction of the dam across the river.

Among the several monasteries built by the Ikshvaku monarchs, the Simhala Vihara (monastery for Ceylonese monks) containing a colossal image of Buddha is the most impressive. The statue was found in fragments during excavations and was reassembled piece by piece and the 10 feet high standing figure now graces the main gallery in the museum.

There is a Mahastupa said to be the oldest structure on the island presumably containing some corporeal relics of the Buddha brought from Ceylon. It is a brick structure decorated with relief sculptures depicting the life of Buddha and other Jataka stories. The sculptures have been removed from the railing of the stupa and are exhibited in the museum.

Opposite the stupa there is the Ashwamedh site and a little away is a stepped tank. The Ashwamedh site is a step well built of brick with two attached square pits, which probably functioned as soak pits. These may have been used to perform Vedic sacrifice.

The stepped tank nearby is built of stone and resembles a Roman bath. The steps are tiered. The tank is provided with a remarkable system of underground drainage.

After viewing the monuments standing out in the open, visitors entering the main gallery of the museum situated near the river bank are at first greeted by a couple of happy looking, potbellied statues of dwarfs standing on pedestals near the doorstep. They are figures of yakshas and the money in their hands is attributed to their being the assistants of the heavenly treasurer, Kuber. The potbelly and the glint in the eyes of these funny, laughing figures indicate their being rich.

The museum houses various figures of the Buddha and panels displaying a few photographs of archaeological importance. Taken during the excavation process, these pictures vividly document some of the important findings in the valley.

Next, the most impressive among the museum's collection, are the special pale green sandstone sculptures, which include finely carved Jataka stories on disc slabs, dome slabs, vertical columns and horizontal friezes. Several episodes from the life of the Buddha are also deftly portrayed and each episode is alternated with some figures of mithuna couples in varying moods.

In the main gallery, one comes across an interesting piece of relief sculpture depicting only the lower part of a female figure. An inscription below reads that the deity was worshipped by the queen of Ehuvala Chamtamula and that she was blessed with children and a happy martial life.

The central hall presents a collection of antiquities ranging from the bust of a Gandharv, figures of dwarfs, yakshis, coins, pottery etc. There is also a model of the submerged valley along with small replicas of some of the monuments.

The last gallery has some of these inscriptions in the Prakrit and Sanskrit languages and a couple of large red clay pots belonging to the megalithic age.

There are also exhibits of some Stone Age implements such as wedges, axes, arrowheads, spearheads and some broken pottery. Such findings from the valley show the continuity of human progress through various stages of development.