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If you are planning for an India heritage tour, caves in India are best places to visit. For all those tourists who have interest in exploring the architectural and sculptural vividness of India’s history,there is nothing best than planning a tour to popular caves in India.
During the early days, especially through the 1st century BC when Buddhist lamas preached Buddhism in India, they erected stupas in many areas that included rock-cut caves in praise of Lord Buddha. Bedsa Caves, also known as Bedse Caves is one of them. These caves are located in Maval Taluka, Pune District in Maharashtra. These caves today stand witness to the ancient history of India. There are many cave systems in the state. But those who have visited Bedsa once and some other caves too, believe that it ranks among the most beautiful caves in Maharashtra.
Located near the famed hill fort of Karjat, the Ambivali cave is around 16 miles north-east of town. It is a Buddhist era rock-cut cave (250 BC – 100 AD) that has been carved out of a long range of low hills running in a curvature on the plateau. It overlooks one of the tributaries of the River Ulhas. The approach to the cave is through a sloping rock that becomes slippery during the monsoon months.
Karad, an important city located in the Satara district of Maharashtra has quite a few interesting features. One of them is the group of 66 Buddhist caves that are known as Agashiv caves. In fact, these rock-cut caves from the Hinanyan sect of Buddhism are situated on the south-east portion of the Agashiv hill that rises from one end of the city.
For students of ancient history and architecture, the rock cut caves of Western India are a source of immense interest and enlightenment. Constructed during periods from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD and from 5th century AD to 10th century AD, some of these caves (both Hindu and Buddhist) display a high degree of architectural splendor of what the artisans from centuries ago were capable of creating. We just stand in front of them and wonder how they could make them.
Buddhism first flourished in the Magadha Empire, gaining patronage from commanding kings such as Asoka, Bimbisar and a few others. However it soon spread to different parts of India, especially the western part of this religiously liberal country. Finding the area friendly and hospitable, Buddhist artists, sculptors and craftsmen engaged themselves in creating large number of caves with inscriptions bearing the teaching of Lord Buddha.
Buddhism reigned supreme in the then Vidarbha which is today’s Maharashtra. You will still find evidence of this in the rock cut caves of Ajanta and several other grottos like the ones in the Pitalkhora caves, located in the Satmala range of the Sahyadri Mountains.
Many of the ancient rock-cut caves that were originally built by Buddhist as Viharas or Chaitys in several parts of Maharashtra, have turned into Hindu or Jain places of worship. According to archaeologists, these transformations had occurred later when Buddhism was on its way out of the Indian peninsula.
Caves obviously are as ancient as the hills. And in those ancient days, these were much favored by those ancient people as the ideal abode where they could be naturally protected against the elements as well as wild animals prowling on them. As days passed, they also learnt how to decorate these caves, as a result of which an art form known as “cave painting” came into existence. Karla caves, located near the picturesque hill resort of Lonavla in Maharashtra and not far from the metropolitan city of Pune are an example of how rock-cut mountain caves can be turned into natural shrines.
Centuries ago, most Buddhist cave temples consisting primarily of Viharas, Chaitys and Stupas were usually built on or near ancient trade routes connecting sea ports with the hinterland. This was done to ensure better communication for the Buddhist monks and disciples of Lord Buddha visiting the caves. Thanale caves located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra are no exception. These caves are located next to the now obliterated trade route that was used by inland travelers who came through the ancient Chaul Port.
January 13, 2016
January 13, 2016
January 13, 2016
January 13, 2016