A rocky Indian Landscape with Hindu Pilgrims bathing in a Pool by a Cave

Dr. Mildred Archer tentatively identified the subject in 1979 as the Sacred Cave at Gooput Benares (Gopthagarh). William Daniell describes the visit to the cave in his Journal for 30 January 1790. 'The Gaut leading down to the Sacred Cavern (Gooput Benares or Gooptigur) being exceedingly steep & difficult, it took us a full hour to get down & proved a fatiguing Descent. At length arriving at the entrance of the Cave in a small compound we found a very stately Bramin very busily employed in saying his Prayers, so much so that we could scarcely get a Word from him expecting that if we went into the Cave we must pull off our Clothes. We did not take his advice but proceeded to enter the Cave, the mouth of which lays about 30ft. up the Rock. Here after our Hindoo attendants had said their proper salaams to the Deity of the Cave, we proceeded on with a Mussaul entering a different Direction to the right the Cealing or Roof of which was covered with at least 10 thousand Bats'. Gooput Benares is situated in the hills near Chunar, 28 miles south of Benares.
This picture was previously attributed to Thomas Daniell, R.A.