महाराणा कुम्भा (हरविलास सारदा - मेवाड़ साम्राज्य के अद्वितीय विजेता, निर्माता व विद्वान्)

Maharana Kumbha. two feet square. It has nine distinct storeys, with openings at every face of each storey, and all these doors have colonnaded porticos." Each storey is lighted by trellis windows, and the angles and recesses not intersected by steps are utilised for statues and ornaments. The exterior surface is broken up into nine principal divisions each furnished with its windows, balustrades, eaves or Chhajjas and emphasized by columns, pilasters and numberless horizontal bands and cornices. A stair passes up the tower though its nine storeys but the peculiarity consists in its winding alternately through a central well and a gallery formed round it. The two upper storeys are open and more ornamental than those below. The whole of the lower is covered with architectural ornaments and sculptures to such an extent as to leave no plain parts, while at the same time, this mass of decoration is kept so subdued that it in no way interferes either with the outline or the general effect of the pillar. It is built chiefly of compact lime- stone and the quartz rock on which it stands, which takes the highest polish : indeed there are portions possessing the hardness, and ex- 141