https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Khapra_Kodiya_CavesKhapra Kodiya Caves - Revision history2026-08-01T02:31:33ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Khapra_Kodiya_Caves&diff=439173&oldid=prevKamal Guha at 03:05, 25 November 20232023-11-25T03:05:45Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox Cave<br />
| name = Khapra Kodiya Caves<br />
| photo =Khapra Kodiya Caves.jpg<br />
| photo_caption =Khapra Kodiya Caves<br />
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| coords = {{coord|21.529933|70.468088|display=inline, title|region:IN_type:landmark}}<br />
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The '''Khapra Kodiya Caves''' are part of the [[Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups|Junagadh Buddhist Cave Group]]. They are the oldest of the caves in the group. The caves, on the basis of scribbles and short cursive letters on the wall, are dated to 3rd-4th century BCE during the Emperor [[Ashoka]]'s rule and are the plainest of all the caves in the groups.<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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926154236/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_gujarat_buddhistcaves.asp|archive-date=26 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> These caves are also known as Khangar Mahal.<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&pg=PA150|access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> They were carved in 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 (which no longer exists) and a little outside Uparkot fort, to the north.<br />
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[[File:Plan of Khapra Kodiya Caves.png|left|thumb|Plan of the caves.]]<br />
The caves are carved out in an east-west longitudinal ridge. They are small in area. But the architecture of the water tanks is unique, and the caves form an 'L' shaped residence. Caves were used by [[bhikku]]s during [[vassa]] period. After many years of use, they were abandoned because cracks within the caves 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">{{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><br />
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<gallery><br />
File:Khapara Kodiya Caves - Frontside.jpg|Frontside of the caves<br />
File:Khapara Kodiya Caves - Entry Passage.jpg|Entry Passage<br />
File:Khapra Kodiya Caves - Outer Wall.jpg|Outer wall<br />
File:Khapara Kodiya Caves - Under Ground Room with Stairs.jpg|Underground room<br />
File:Khapara Kodiya Caves - Underground Room with Stairs and Door to another room.jpg|Underground room with entrygate to another room<br />
File:Khapara Kodiya Caves - Supporting Pillars.jpg|Supporting pilars<br />
</gallery><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Commons category}}<br />
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[[Category:Buddhist caves in India]]<br />
[[Category:Caves of Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Indian rock-cut architecture]]<br />
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]<br />
[[Category:Architecture of India]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Junagadh district]]<br />
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{{Buddhism-stub}}<br />
{{Buddhist sites in Gujarat}}</div>Kamal Guha