https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Guntupalli_Group_of_Buddhist_MonumentsGuntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments - Revision history2026-07-31T07:23:46ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Guntupalli_Group_of_Buddhist_Monuments&diff=473317&oldid=prevRupa Banerjee Editor at 08:13, 12 April 20252025-04-12T08:13:26Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Ancient Buddhist site in India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox religious building<br />
| name = Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments<br />
| image = Entrance of Rock-cut temple.JPG<br />
| image_upright = 1.2<br />
| caption = Entrance to the [[chaitya]] hall at Guntupalle, [[Andhra Pradesh]]. <br />
| map_type = India Andhra Pradesh#India<br />
| map_size=270<br />
| relief = yes<br />
| religious_affiliation = Buddhism<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|17.0188889|81.1305556|display=inline, title}}<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
| district = [[Amaravati district|Eluru]]<br />
| location = Guntupalli<br />
| architecture_style = Buddhist caves<br />
| website = <br />
}}<br />
{{BuddhasHolySites}}<br />
The Guntupalle or '''Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments''' is located near [[Kamavarapukota]], [[Eluru district]], in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]] in [[India]]. It is around 40&nbsp;km away from [[Eluru]].<ref name=Tourism>{{cite web|last=Tourism Department|title=Guntupalli Caves|url=http://www.aptourism.in/index.php/k2-separator/k2/item/341#.UphKudIW2So|publisher=Tourism Department, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India|access-date=29 November 2013}}</ref> The rock-cut part of the site has two [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] caves, a [[chaitya]] hall and a large group of [[stupa]]s.<ref name=Ahir>{{cite book|last=Ahir|first=D. C.|title=Buddhist Sites and Shrines in India : History, Art, and Architecture|year=2003|publisher=Sri Satguru Publ.|location=Delhi|isbn=8170307740|page=30|edition=1.}}</ref> The chaitya hall has a rare carved stone entrance replicating wooden architecture, a simpler version of that at the [[Lomas Rishi Cave]].<ref>Michell, 368; ASI</ref> <br />
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There are remains of structural buildings in brick and stone, including remains of two [[vihara]] made of brick, as well as excavated caves at two levels, including an unusual structural [[chaitya]] hall (that is, one built above ground). The core of this consists of the stone stupa with an enclosed path around it allowing ritual [[parikrama]] (circumambulation). They mostly date to 200-0 BCE, with some sculptures added later. The main building above ground is in brick, around a stone [[stupa]], with over 30 smaller stupas on a terrace in front of it. There are ruins of two other buildings.<ref>ASI; Michell, 368</ref> <br />
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During excavation, three [[Śarīra|relic]] caskets were found.<ref name=Ahir /> The caskets had many precious elements like gold, silver, crystal beads. The bronze image of [[Padmapani]] was found along with one of the caskets. The inscription on the casket was in the [[Devanagari]] script which indicates the year as from the 9th to 10th century CE.<ref name=Ahir /><br />
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==Gallery==<br />
<gallery widths="200" heights="200"><br />
File:Guntupalli cave.jpg|Guntupalli cave<br />
File:Stone built Stupa.JPG|The stupa inside its building<br />
File:Stone built Stupa and Large group of stupas 2.JPG|Stupa remains below the main stupa<br />
File:Large group of stupas.JPG|Stupas<br />
File:Guntupalli caves.jpg|Stupas<br />
File:Brick Chaitya.JPG<br />
File:Guntupalli Buddhist caves.JPG|Guntupalli Buddhist caves information board<br />
</gallery><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{commons category|Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments}}<br />
*"ASI": [https://web.archive.org/web/20131230103139/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_ap_guntupalli.asp Group of Buddhist Monuments, Guntupalli. ASI]<br />
*Michell, George, ''The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu'', 1989, Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0140081445}}<br />
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{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}<br />
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{{Portal|India}}<br />
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Eluru district]]<br />
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Stupas in India]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]<br />
[[Category:Rock-cut architecture of India]]<br />
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]<br />
[[Category:Caves of Andhra Pradesh]]</div>Rupa Banerjee Editor