Cave III. is a vihara which had a verandah 30 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 9 inches, with four pillars in front and a chapel at each end. The back wall has a door and two windows; and the hall, which is 41 feet 6 inches by 46 feet 6 inches, is supported on twelve columns, all richly carved in five different patterns, combining the styles of Caves I. and XXVI. at Ajanta. In the side wings are two compartments 18 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 4 inches. The fronts of each are divided by two pillars with corresponding pilasters. Those on the right side are comparatively plain; but those on the left are very elaborately carved. There are again four cells in the angles, which were used as abodes for monks; while the cells at the back and sides were used as chapels. The front of the antechamber to the shrine is divided by two highly carved pillars and pilasters, having from their capitals, struts of female figures standing under foliage. The entrance to the shrine has a neatly carved step; and the door has some plain fascias round it, with a pilaster, and sculpture in low relief. At the foot of each pilaster stands a figure with the snakehood canopy. The shrine is occupied by a colossal seated Buddha, with his feet down, and his hands in the teaching attitude. Two groups of worshipping figures, male and female, occupy the front rows of the shrine,-seven on one side and six on the other. They have almost an Egyptian cast of countenance, with thick lips, and very elaborate head-dresses and necklaces. Some have garlands in their hands; and one woman has a head-ornament, such as may still be seen, worn by females of the better classes in Western India. The total depth of the cave, from the front of the verandah to the back of the shrine, is 82 feet 6 inches, and the width including the apartments on each side of the hall, 63 feet. The halls are quite devoid of sculpture, and the only other carving besides that found on the pillars and pilasters is the inner frieze over the square of twelve columns. This is divided all round into little temples, having high arched roofs ornamented with chaitya-windows, containing one or two sitting figures, sometimes of Buddhas, in the centre, with standing attendants by the sides-Over the four columns forming the back of the front aisle is an architrave about 16 inches deep, on the front of which is a series of fifteen scenes in half relief. One of them represents a battle in a forest, and another shows Buddha reclining on his couch between two trees, before entering nirvana. The age of this cave may be about A. D. 650, or even later. It is one of the most completely developed, and among the latest of Buddhist caves in India.
