Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 242
________________ Hindu Sites and Places of Interest] 159 stay here with his retinue. It is said that in his times seven polas (different lanes) existed from main gate of the fort to the Achaleshvara Mahadeva. After entering the sixth pola (counting from the foot of the hill) one comes across old secretariat buildings. On the hill are the palace of the king, his constabulory and gunpowder stores, godowns and state-granary, and quarters for the army. A storehouse situated a little upwards of the reservoirs is known as Miṭhāno Kot (salt-stores) which was possibly originally intended for storing gun-powder but later was used for maintaining salt-supply which gave it its new name mentioned above. In the sixth lane are also raised three or four targets for practice in shooting or archery; one of them adjacent to the palace is said to have also served as the place for striking gong in order to announce every hour. (4) Cave ascribed to Harishchandra A little down the hill from the fort is a cave, two storeyed and with three compartments on the ground floor. On top of the cave is an old building in ruins which the people recognise as the palace of Kumbhā Rāṇā. The cave is called after the name of Harishchandra, the truthful King of Puranic fame, or of Gopichandra, the king who became a monk of the Natha sect. It seems to have been used by Hindu monks or sages who kept fires, ashes of which are still lying inside. 1 Pola (mis-spelt as Pole in modern English) or Pola is used for a big lane. Originally such lanes had gateways (Pratoli) at the entrance and the term Pola seems to have been a later corruption of Sanskrit Pratoli.-Translator.

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