Undavalli Caves

Undavalli Caves
The largest of the Undavalli Caves
Location	Tadepalle Mandal in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Discovery	420 - 620 AD

The Undavalli Caves, a monolithic example of Indian rock-cut architecture and one of the finest testimonials to ancient viswakarma sthapathis, are located in Undavalli of Guntur district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The caves are located 6 km south west from Vijayawada, 22 km north east of Guntur City of Andhra Pradesh.

Description

View of the pillars of the which were carved out of a single giant rock

These caves were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside in the 4th to 5th centuries A.D.^[1] There are several caves and the best known largest one has four stories with a huge recreated statue of Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted from a single block of granite inside the second floor. Undavalli caves are an example of how many Buddhist artifacts and stupas in Andhra were converted into Hindu temples and deities. It was originally a Jain cave resembling the architecture of Udayagiri and Khandgiri.^[2] The main cave is one of the earliest examples of Gupta architecture, primarily primitive rock-cut monastery cells carved into the sandstone hills.^[3] Initially the caves were shaped as a Jain abode and the first floor abode still retains the Jain style; the vihara exhibits Jain monastics and includes tirthankara sculptures. This first level of the cave is a carved vihara and includes Buddhist art work.^[4] The site served as the Bhikkhu monastic complex during ancient period.^[5] The walls of the caves display sculptures carved by skilled craftsmen.

The caves are surrounded by the green countryside. From the high hill above the cave overlooking the Krishna River many fine specimens of rock cut architecture can be seen.

Notes

↑ "Undavalli Caves". andhratourism.com. Retrieved 2006-08-19.
↑ "Undavalli Caves". showcaves.com. Retrieved 2006-08-19.
↑ Thapar, Binda (2004). Introduction to Indian Architecture. Singapore: Periplus Editions. p. 10. ISBN 0-7946-0011-5.
↑ An Official Website Of Guntur District Government Of Andhra Pradesh. "Undavalli Caves". Guntur District Government Of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
↑ Tourism Department. "Undavalli Caves". Tourism Department, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Retrieved 29 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Undavalli Caves.

Coordinates: 16°29′49″N 80°34′54″E / 16.49687°N 80.58178°E / 16.49687; 80.58178

Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh

Anantapur	Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi

Chittor	Ardhagiri Temple Boiyakonda Gangamma Temple Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple Kapila Theertham Koneti Rayala Temple Palli Kondeswarar Temple, Surutapalli Kulandeshwara Temple Srikalahasteeswara Temple Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

East Godavari	Chalukya Kumararama Bhimeswara Temple Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Antarvedi Neelakanteshwara Temple, Antarvedi

Guntur	Amaralingeswara Temple Kotappakonda Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Kadapa	Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta Pushpagiri Temple Complex Gandi Anjaneya Temple

Krishna	Jaladheeswara Temple Kanaka Durga Temple Paritala Anjaneya Temple Andhra Maha Vishnu Sri Peddintlamma Temple

Kurnool	Yaganti Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple Kambagiri Koulutla Chenna Kesava Temple Sangameswara Temple Mantralayam

Nellore	Ranganatha Temple, Nellore Kodandarama Temple, Buchireddipalem Penchalakona

Prakasam	Gangamma Temple, Dhenuvakonda Tripurantakam

Srikakulam	Arasavalli Srikurmam Mukhalingam

Visakhapatnam	Balighattam Nookambika Temple Simhachalam Temple Padmanabham Panchadharla

Vizianagaram	Ramatheertham Punyagiri

West Godavari	Ksheerarama Somarama Kotasattemma Temple Veerabhadra Temple

Indian Buddhist caves

Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramatheertham Caves Sankaram Undavalli caves

Bihar	Barabar Caves Lomas Rishi Cave Saptaparni Cave

Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Bava Pyara caves Uparkot Caves Kadia Dungar caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot caves Talaja Caves

Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava caves Mangalore

Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Dharmrajeshwar Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Gandharpale Caves Ghorawadi Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Lenyadri Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Nadsur Caves Nenavali Caves Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Pitalkhora Shelarwadi Caves Shirwal Caves Shivneri Caves Thanale Caves Tulja Caves Wai Caves

Odisha	Udayagiri, Odisha

Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves

Tamil Nadu	Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram

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