Kamal Guha at 03:00, 25 November 2023

2023-11-25T03:00:17Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{primary sources|date=October 2018}}
[[File:Plan of Khapra Kodiya Caves.png|thumb|Plan of Khapra Kodiya Caves, Junagadh, Gujarat, India]]
{{BuddhasHolySites}}
'''Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups''' are located in [[Junagadh district]] of the [[India]]n state of [[Gujarat]]. These caves group includes Uparkot Caves, Khapra Kodiya Caves and Baba Pyare Caves. The so-called "Buddhist Caves" are not actually caves, but three separate sites of rooms carved out of stone to be used as monks' quarters. These caves were carved starting from Emperor Ashoka's period up to 1st–4th century AD.

==Khapra Kodiya Caves==
The oldest, the [[Khapra Kodiya Caves|Khapara Kodia Caves]], on the basis of scribbles and short cursive letters on the wall, are dated to 3rd-4th century BC during the Emperor [[Ashoka]]’s rule and are plainest of all cave groups.<ref name="ASI Buddhist Cave Groups" /> These caves are also known as Khangar Mahal.<ref name=Sagar /> They were carved into living rock during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and are considered the earliest monastic settlement in the area. These caves are along the edge of the ancient Sudarshan Lake and little outside Uparkot fort, Northerly. They are carved out in an east-west longitudinal ridge. Caves are small in area. But, it has unique architecture of the water tanks design on western side and 'L' shaped residence. Caves were used by [[bhikku]]s during [[vassa]] period. After many years of use, they were abandoned because cracks within that let water seep into living quarters, rendering them unusable. Many accounts say that after this, the monks left for [[Maharashtra]], where they went on to carve many similar and more elaborate structures. Khapara Kodia was damaged by later quarrying, and now only the highest story remains.<ref name="Gujarat Limited" />

==Baba Pyare Caves==
[[File:Plan of Bava Pyara Caves, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.png|thumb|Plan of Bava Pyara Caves]]
[[File:Bava Pyara caves 006.jpg|thumb|Bava Pyara caves]]
The [[Bava Pyara Caves]] are located near Modhimath, little outside Uparkot fort complex, southernly. These are much more intact than the Khapara Kodia caves. The [[cave]]s were constructed during the [[Satavahana]] regime in 1st–2nd century A.D.<ref name="ASI Buddhist Cave Groups" /> According to the [[Xuanzang]]'s travel account they were constructed in 1st century A.D.<ref name=Sagar>{{cite book|last=Sagar|first=Krishna Chandra|title=Foreign influence on ancient India|year=1992|publisher=Northern Book Centre|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-8172110284|page=150|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0UA4rkm9MgkC&q=uparkot+caves&pg=PA150|access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> Northern group has four caves. South eastern group has [[chaitya]] and spacious court.<ref name="ASI Buddhist Cave Groups">{{cite web|title=Ticketed Monuments - Gujarat Buddhist Cave Groups, Uperkot, Junagadh|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_gujarat_buddhistcaves.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> Group has 13 caves modelled in three floors, carved in 45 m. (150 ft.) long, influenced by [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] architecture.<ref name="Gujarat Limited">{{cite web|title=Buddhist Caves |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=191&webpartid=547 |publisher=Gujarat Tourism - Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited |access-date=25 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212072711/http://gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=191&webpartid=547 |archive-date=12 December 2010 }}</ref> Bava Pyara caves contains artworks of both [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]].

==Uperkot Caves==
[[File:Plan of Uparkot Caves, Junagadh, India.png|thumb|Plan of Uparkot caves; lower floor (left) and upper floor (right)|left]]
[[File:Buddhist caves, Uperkot 02.jpg|thumb|Upper floor of the Uperkot caves]]
These [[Uparkot Caves|caves located at Uperkot]] beyond the 300 feet deep moat, close to Adi Kadi vav, were carved in 2nd–3rd century A.D. These caves have influence of Satvahana architecture with combination of ''Graeco- Scythian'' style. According to [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] "The cave group is in three tiers, with all members of each galleries shown in semi-relief, but only two storeys having regular floors. The upper floor has a deep tank, covered on three sides with verandahs and Kakshasana on west and north-west side. Lower floor has with corridor and pillars. The lower floor has exquisitely carved pillars whose base, shaft and capital carry unique decorative design."<ref name="ASI Buddhist Cave Groups" /> These caves are gilded with beautiful pillars and entrances, water cisterns, horseshoe-shaped [[chaitya]] windows, an assembly hall and cell for meditation.<ref name=Uparkot>{{cite web|title=Uparkot|url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/6/244 |publisher=Gujarat Tourism - Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited|access-date=18 May 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|India}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222121/http://www.asivadodaracircle.in/sites/baba-pyare-khapra-kodia-caves/about Baba Pyare, Khapra Kodia Caves]

{{coord missing|Maharashtra}}

{{Buddhist sites in Gujarat}}
{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}

[[Category:Buddhist caves in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Caves of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Architecture of India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Junagadh district]]
[[Category:Caves containing pictograms in India]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Gujarat]]

Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 03:00, 25 November 2023