CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Indian rock-cut architecture - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":false,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy", "wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"e44dba56-67c7-48c7-b704-31292f0a343f","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Indian_rock-cut_architecture","wgTitle":"Indian rock-cut architecture","wgCurRevisionId":1244166848,"wgRevisionId":1244166848,"wgArticleId":7094395,"wgIsArticle":true,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["Webarchive template wayback links","Articles with short description","Short description matches Wikidata","Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images","All articles with unsourced statements","Articles with unsourced statements from August 2021","Indian rock-cut architecture","Indian architectural styles","Architectural styles","Indian architectural history","Rock-cut architecture"],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en", "wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Indian_rock-cut_architecture","wgRelevantArticleId":7094395,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline":false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":40000,"wgRelatedArticlesCompat":[],"wgCentralAuthMobileDomain":false,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgWikibaseItemId":"Q388774", "wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile","model","platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics":true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.cite.styles":"ready","mediawiki.page.gallery.styles":"ready","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","jquery.makeCollapsible.styles":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","wikibase.client.init":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","mediawiki.page.media","ext.scribunto.logs","site","mediawiki.page.ready", "jquery.makeCollapsible","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.centralNotice.startUp","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.switcher","ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns","ext.cx.uls.quick.actions","wikibase.client.vector-2022","ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession","wikibase.sidebar.tracking"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cjquery.makeCollapsible.styles%7Cmediawiki.page.gallery.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles%7Cwikibase.client.init&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.4"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="800"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/800px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="800"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="533"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/640px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="640"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="427"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="Indian rock-cut architecture - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//meta.wikimedia.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Indian_rock-cut_architecture rootpage-Indian_rock-cut_architecture skin-vector-2022 action-view"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Indian+rock-cut+architecture" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Indian+rock-cut+architecture" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Indian+rock-cut+architecture" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Indian+rock-cut+architecture" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav id="mw-panel-toc" aria-label="Contents" data-event-name="ui.sidebar-toc" class="mw-table-of-contents-container vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-toc-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-toc" class="vector-toc vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-toc-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="toc-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-toc" > <h2 class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Contents</h2> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-Early_natural_caves" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Early_natural_caves"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Early natural caves</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Early_natural_caves-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Artificial_caves_of_Eastern_India_(3rd–2nd_centuries_BCE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Artificial_caves_of_Eastern_India_(3rd–2nd_centuries_BCE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Artificial caves of Eastern India (3rd–2nd centuries BCE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Artificial_caves_of_Eastern_India_(3rd–2nd_centuries_BCE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Artificial_caves_of_Western_India" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Artificial_caves_of_Western_India"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Artificial caves of Western India</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Artificial_caves_of_Western_India-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Artificial caves of Western India subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Artificial_caves_of_Western_India-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-First_wave_of_construction_(2nd_century_BCE–4th_century_CE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#First_wave_of_construction_(2nd_century_BCE–4th_century_CE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>First wave of construction (2nd century BCE–4th century CE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-First_wave_of_construction_(2nd_century_BCE–4th_century_CE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Second_wave_of_cave_construction_(5th–6th_century_CE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Second_wave_of_cave_construction_(5th–6th_century_CE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Second wave of cave construction (5th–6th century CE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Second_wave_of_cave_construction_(5th–6th_century_CE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Final_wave_of_cave_construction_(6th–15th_century_CE)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Final_wave_of_cave_construction_(6th–15th_century_CE)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Final wave of cave construction (6th–15th century CE)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Final_wave_of_cave_construction_(6th–15th_century_CE)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Monolithic_rock-cut_temples" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Monolithic_rock-cut_temples"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Monolithic rock-cut temples</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Monolithic_rock-cut_temples-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Stepwells" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Stepwells"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Stepwells</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Stepwells-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gallery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gallery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Gallery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gallery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rock-cut_monuments_in_India" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rock-cut_monuments_in_India"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Rock-cut monuments in India</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rock-cut_monuments_in_India-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian rock-cut architecture</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 7 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-7" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">7 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A9_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AE%D8%B1" title="العمارة الهندية المنحوتة في الصخر – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="العمارة الهندية المنحوتة في الصخر" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arquitectura_tallada_en_la_roca_a_l%27%C3%8Dndia" title="Arquitectura tallada en la roca a l'Índia – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Arquitectura tallada en la roca a l'Índia" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arquitectura_tallada_en_la_roca_en_India" title="Arquitectura tallada en la roca en India – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Arquitectura tallada en la roca en India" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_taill%C3%A9e_dans_la_roche_en_Inde" title="Architecture taillée dans la roche en Inde – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Architecture taillée dans la roche en Inde" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE" title="भारतीय शैलकर्तित वास्तुकला – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="भारतीय शैलकर्तित वास्तुकला" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkitektura_shk%C3%ABmbore_e_Indis%C3%AB" title="Arkitektura shkëmbore e Indisë – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Arkitektura shkëmbore e Indisë" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B2%A9%E9%9B%95%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89" title="印度岩雕建築 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="印度岩雕建築" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q388774#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Indian_rock-cut_architecture" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Indian_rock-cut_architecture"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Indian_rock-cut_architecture" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Indian_rock-cut_architecture" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&oldid=1244166848" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&id=1244166848&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FIndian_rock-cut_architecture"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FIndian_rock-cut_architecture"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-commons mw-list-item"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rock-cut_architecture_in_India" hreflang="en"><span>Wikimedia Commons</span></a></li><li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q388774" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">The creation of structures, buildings, and sculptures by excavating solid rock</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner img{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner img{background-color:white}}</style><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:292px;max-width:292px"><div class="trow"><div class="theader">Indian rock-cut architecture</div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:290px;max-width:290px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:192px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_(2).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/288px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="288" height="192" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/432px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg/576px-AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption text-align-center">Cave 19, <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta</a>, a 5th-century <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaitya</a> hall</div></div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:290px;max-width:290px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:214px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg/288px-Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg" decoding="async" width="288" height="214" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg/432px-Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg/576px-Ellora_Cave_16_si0308.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1571" data-file-height="1170" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption text-align-center"><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Kailasanathar_Temple" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora Kailasanathar Temple">Kailash Temple</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ellora" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora">Ellora</a> cave 16</div></div></div></div></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1246091330">.mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:22em;float:right;clear:right;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.2em;text-align:center;line-height:1.4em;font-size:88%;border-collapse:collapse;display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:table!important;float:right!important;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em!important}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-subgroup{width:100%;margin:0;border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-left{float:left;clear:left;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-none{float:none;clear:both;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-outer-title{padding:0 0.4em 0.2em;font-size:125%;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-image{padding:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-caption,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle-with-top-image,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-caption{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle{padding:0.4em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.2em 0.8em;font-size:145%;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-image{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-heading{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content{padding:0 0.5em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content-with-subgroup{padding:0.1em 0.4em 0.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-below{padding:0.3em 0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks hlist" style="border-spacing:0;"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title" style="font-size:115%;"><a href="/wiki/Indian_art" title="Indian art">Art forms of India</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image" style="padding-bottom:1.0em;border-bottom:1px solid #3E7C32;"><figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="Indian art" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg/80px-Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="103" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg/120px-Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg/160px-Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2876" data-file-height="3694" /></span><figcaption></figcaption></figure></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#DEB887; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12.5px; text-align:center; border-top:solid 1px #aaa; font-variant: small-caps;;color: var(--color-base)">Religions</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_art" title="Hindu art">Hindu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sikh_art" title="Sikh art">Sikh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jain_art" title="Jain art">Jain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_art" title="Buddhist art">Buddhist</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#DEB887; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12.5px; text-align:center; border-top:solid 1px #aaa; font-variant: small-caps;;color: var(--color-base)">Periods</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation" title="Indus Valley Civilisation">Indus Valley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mauryan_art" title="Mauryan art">Mauryan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indo-Greek_art" title="Indo-Greek art">Indo-Greek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indo-Scythian_art" title="Indo-Scythian art">Indo-Scythian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greco-Buddhist_art" title="Greco-Buddhist art">Greco-Buddhist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kushan_art" title="Kushan art">Kushan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gupta_art" title="Gupta art">Gupta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pandyan_art_and_architecture" title="Pandyan art and architecture">Pandyan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pallava_art_and_architecture" title="Pallava art and architecture">Pallava</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chola_art_and_architecture" title="Chola art and architecture">Chola</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indo-Islamic_architecture" title="Indo-Islamic architecture">Indo-Islamic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mughal_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Mughal art">Mughal</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#DEB887; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12.5px; text-align:center; border-top:solid 1px #aaa; font-variant: small-caps;;color: var(--color-base)">Techniques</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cave_paintings_in_India" title="Cave paintings in India">Cave paintings</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Rock-cut architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Indian_architecture" title="Ancient Indian architecture">Ancient architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Architecture_of_India" title="Architecture of India">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sculpture_in_the_Indian_subcontinent" title="Sculpture in the Indian subcontinent">Sculpture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indian_painting" title="Indian painting">Painting</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#DEB887; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12.5px; text-align:center; border-top:solid 1px #aaa; font-variant: small-caps;;color: var(--color-base)">Locations</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bhimbetka_rock_shelters" title="Bhimbetka rock shelters">Bhimbetka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Art_of_Mathura" title="Art of Mathura">Mathura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greco-Buddhist_art" title="Greco-Buddhist art">Gandhara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanchi" title="Sanchi">Sanchi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bharhut" title="Bharhut">Bharhut</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Barabar_caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Barabar caves">Barabar caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments" title="Khajuraho Group of Monuments">Khajuraho</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:#DEB887; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12.5px; text-align:center; border-top:solid 1px #aaa; font-variant: small-caps;;color: var(--color-base)">See also</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indian_history" class="mw-redirect" title="Indian history">Indian history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indian_culture" class="mw-redirect" title="Indian culture">Indian culture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Asian_art" class="mw-redirect" title="Asian art">Asian art</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portal:Visual_arts" title="Portal:Visual arts">Visual arts portal</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Indian_art" title="Template:Indian art"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Template_talk:Indian_art&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Template talk:Indian art (page does not exist)"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Indian_art" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Indian art"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Indian rock-cut architecture</b> is more various and found in greater abundance in that country than any other form of rock-cut architecture around the world.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Rock-cut_architecture" title="Rock-cut architecture">Rock-cut architecture</a> is the practice of creating a structure by carving it out of solid natural rock. Rock that is not part of the structure is removed until the only rock left makes up the architectural elements of the excavated interior. Indian rock-cut architecture is mostly religious in nature.<sup id="cite_ref-glossary_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-glossary-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-boloji_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-boloji-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There are more than 1,500 known rock-cut structures in India. Many of these structures contain artwork of global importance, and most are adorned with exquisite stone carvings. These ancient and medieval structures represent significant achievements of structural engineering and craftsmanship.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The effort expended often astonishes visitors, but seen from one aspect, a rock-cut structure is a decorated rock quarry; most of the stone removed was typically put to economic use elsewhere.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2021)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>In India, caves have long been regarded as sacred places. Caves that were enlarged or entirely man-made were believed to be as sacred as natural caves. The sanctuary in all Indian religious structures, even free-standing ones, was designed to have the same cave-like feeling, as it is generally small and dark, without natural light.<sup id="cite_ref-michael_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-michael-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The oldest rock-cut architecture is found in the <a href="/wiki/Barabar_caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Barabar caves">Barabar caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a>, which were built around the 3rd century BC. Other early cave temples are found in the western <a href="/wiki/Deccan_Plateau" title="Deccan Plateau">Deccan</a>; these are mostly Buddhist shrines and monasteries, dating between 100 BC and 170 AD. Originally, there were probably <a href="/wiki/Wooden" class="mw-redirect" title="Wooden">wooden</a> structures associated with them, which would have deteriorated over time. </p><p>Historically, artisans carried forward design elements from wood in their rock-cut temples: skilled craftsmen carved rock to imitate timber texture, grain, and structure. The earliest cave temples include the <a href="/wiki/Bhaja_Caves" title="Bhaja Caves">Bhaja Caves</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Bedse_Caves" title="Bedse Caves">Bedse Caves</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a>, and some of the <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a>. Relics found in these caves suggest a connection between the religious and the commercial. Buddhist missionaries are known to have accompanied traders on the busy international trading routes through India. Some of the more sumptuous cave temples, commissioned by wealthy traders, included pillars, arches, and elaborate facades. They were made during the period when maritime trade boomed between the Roman Empire and south-east Asia.<sup id="cite_ref-keay_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-keay-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Although free-standing structural temples were being built by the 5th century, rock-cut cave temples continued to be built in parallel. Later rock-cut cave architecture became more sophisticated, as in the <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a>. The monolithic <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Kailasanathar_Temple" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora Kailasanathar Temple">Kailash Temple</a> is considered to be the peak of this type construction. Although cave temples continued to be built until the 12th century, rock-cut architecture became almost totally structural in nature. That is, rocks were cut into bricks and used to build free-standing structures. Kailash was the last spectacular rock-cut excavated temple.<sup id="cite_ref-rockcut2_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rockcut2-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Numerous <a href="/wiki/Rock_relief" title="Rock relief">rock reliefs</a>, <a href="/wiki/Relief" title="Relief">relief</a> sculptures carved into rock faces, have been found outside caves or at other sites. New discoveries of relatively small rock-cut sites, mostly Buddhist, continue to be made in the 21st century, especially in the <a href="/wiki/Deccan" class="mw-redirect" title="Deccan">Deccan</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-SG_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SG-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_natural_caves">Early natural caves</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early natural caves"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sattapanni.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Sattapanni.jpg/220px-Sattapanni.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="173" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Sattapanni.jpg/330px-Sattapanni.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Sattapanni.jpg/440px-Sattapanni.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1878" data-file-height="1480" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Saptaparni_Cave" title="Saptaparni Cave">Saptaparni Cave</a>, a retreat of the <a href="/wiki/Buddha" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddha">Buddha</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The earliest caves used by humans were natural caves that they occupied or used for a variety of purposes, such as shrines and shelters. Evidence suggests that the caves were first occupied and slightly altered during the <a href="/wiki/Palaeolithic" class="mw-redirect" title="Palaeolithic">Palaeolithic</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mesolithic" title="Mesolithic">Mesolithic</a> periods, up to about 6000 BC. These changes are not classified as architecture. Early examples included decorating overhanging rock with <a href="/wiki/Petroglyph" title="Petroglyph">rock-cut designs</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-art_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-art-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Rock_Shelters_of_Bhimbetka" class="mw-redirect" title="Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka">Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka</a>, now designated as a UNESCO <a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Site</a>, are located on the edge of the <a href="/wiki/Deccan_Plateau" title="Deccan Plateau">Deccan Plateau</a>, where dramatic erosion has left massive <a href="/wiki/Sandstone" title="Sandstone">sandstone</a> outcrops. Researchers have found primitive <a href="/wiki/Tool" title="Tool">tools</a> and decorative rock paintings made by humans in the area's many caves and <a href="/wiki/Grotto" title="Grotto">grottos</a>, the earliest paintings dating to circa 8,000 BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-YM_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-YM-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-SKT_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SKT-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-RSB_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RSB-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-SM_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SM-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-AJ_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AJ-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the time of the <a href="/wiki/Buddha" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddha">Buddha</a> (c. 563/480 or c. 483/400 BCE), Buddhist monks were also in the habit of using natural caves, such as the <a href="/wiki/Saptaparni_Cave" title="Saptaparni Cave">Saptaparni Cave</a>, southwest from <a href="/wiki/Rajgir" title="Rajgir">Rajgir</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Gwynne2017_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gwynne2017-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Many believe it to be the site in which Buddha spent some time before his death,<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and where the <a href="/wiki/First_Buddhist_council" class="mw-redirect" title="First Buddhist council">first Buddhist council</a> was held after the Buddha died (<a href="/wiki/Paranirvana" class="mw-redirect" title="Paranirvana">paranirvana</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-Gwynne2017_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gwynne2017-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Jain1991p66_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Jain1991p66-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Buddha himself had also used the <a href="/wiki/Indrasala_Cave" title="Indrasala Cave">Indrasala Cave</a> for meditation, starting a tradition of using caves, natural or man-made, as religious retreats, that would last for over a millennium.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Artificial_caves_of_Eastern_India_(3rd–2nd_centuries_BCE)"><span id="Artificial_caves_of_Eastern_India_.283rd.E2.80.932nd_centuries_BCE.29"></span>Artificial caves of Eastern India (3rd–2nd centuries BCE)</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Artificial caves of Eastern India (3rd–2nd centuries BCE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti"><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:397px;max-width:397px"><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:201px;max-width:201px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg/199px-Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg" decoding="async" width="199" height="196" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg/299px-Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg/398px-Lomas_Rishi_entrance.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3290" data-file-height="3240" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption text-align-center">The famous carved door of <a href="/wiki/Lomas_Rishi_cave" class="mw-redirect" title="Lomas Rishi cave">Lomas Rishi</a>, one of the <a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a>, dated to approximately 250 BCE, displaying the first known <a href="/wiki/Maurya" class="mw-redirect" title="Maurya">Maurya</a> <a href="/wiki/Relief" title="Relief">reliefs</a>.</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:192px;max-width:192px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg/190px-Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg" decoding="async" width="190" height="195" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg/285px-Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg/380px-Sudama_cave_mirror-polished_walls.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2911" data-file-height="2984" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption text-align-center">The quasi-perfect walls of the <a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a> were dug into the hard rock and polished to a mirror effect circa 250 BCE, date of the inscriptions of <a href="/wiki/Ashoka" title="Ashoka">Ashoka</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-NL_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NL-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div></div></div></div></div> <p>In the 3rd century BCE Indian rock-cut architecture began to develop, starting with the already highly sophisticated and state-sponsored <a href="/wiki/Barabar_caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Barabar caves">Barabar caves</a> in <a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a>, personally dedicated by <a href="/wiki/Ashoka" title="Ashoka">Ashoka</a> circa 250 BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-Chandra_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Chandra-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These artificial caves exhibit an amazing level of technical proficiency, the extremely hard <a href="/wiki/Granite" title="Granite">granite</a> rock being cut in geometrical fashion and polished to a mirror-like finish.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There is another cave with the structure and polishing qualities of the Barabar caves, but without any inscription. This is the <a href="/wiki/Sitamarhi_Cave" title="Sitamarhi Cave">Sitamarhi Cave</a>, 20 km from <a href="/wiki/Rajgir" title="Rajgir">Rajgir</a>, 10 km south-west of <a href="/wiki/Hisua" title="Hisua">Hisua</a>, also dated of the Maurya empire. It is smaller than the Barabar caves, measuring only 4.91x3.43m, with a ceiling height of 2.01m. The entrance is also trapezoidal, as for the Barabar caves.<sup id="cite_ref-Gupta_p.194_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gupta_p.194-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Finally, the <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a> <a href="/wiki/Son_Bhandar_Caves" title="Son Bhandar Caves">Son Bhandar Caves</a> in <a href="/wiki/Rajgir" title="Rajgir">Rajgir</a>, generally dated to the 2nd–4th centuries CE, nevertheless share a broad structure reminiscent of the caves of Barabar and some small areas of irregular polish, which leads some authors to suggest that they may actually be contemporary to, and even earlier than, the Barabar caves, and would conveniently create a precedent and an evolutionary step to the Barabar Caves.<sup id="cite_ref-Gupta_p.194_23-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gupta_p.194-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>To the southeast of <a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Udayagiri_and_Khandagiri_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves">Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves</a>, partly natural and partly artificial caves were built near the city of <a href="/wiki/Bhubaneswar" title="Bhubaneswar">Bhubaneswar</a> in <a href="/wiki/Odisha" title="Odisha">Odisha</a>, <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as <i>Kumari Parvat</i> in the <a href="/wiki/Hathigumpha_inscription" title="Hathigumpha inscription">Hathigumpha inscription</a>. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves built during 2nd century BCE.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBhargava2006357_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBhargava2006357-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a> monks during the reign of King <a href="/wiki/Kharavela" title="Kharavela">Kharavela</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKrishanTadikonda199623_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKrishanTadikonda199623-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPandya20146_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPandya20146-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_(9224886169).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Entrance of the Gopika cave, Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE."><img alt="Entrance of the Gopika cave, Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg/150px-Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg/225px-Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg/300px-Barabar_Caves_-_Staircase_and_Cave_Entrance_%289224886169%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3240" data-file-height="4320" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Entrance of the Gopika cave, <a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a>, 3rd century BCE.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Polished interior of Sudama, in the Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE."><img alt="Polished interior of Sudama, in the Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg/200px-Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg/300px-Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg/400px-Barabar_caves_Sudama_inside.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="667" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Polished interior of Sudama, in the <a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a>, 3rd century BCE.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Visvakarma cave entrance, Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE."><img alt="Visvakarma cave entrance, Barabar Caves, 3rd century BCE." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg/200px-Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg/300px-Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg/400px-Barabar_Visvakarma_Cave.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="768" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Visvakarma cave entrance, <a href="/wiki/Barabar_Caves" title="Barabar Caves">Barabar Caves</a>, 3rd century BCE.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, 2nd century BCE."><img alt="Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, 2nd century BCE." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg/200px-Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg/300px-Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg/400px-Udayagiri_Caves_-_Rani_Gumpha_01.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5053" data-file-height="3368" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Udayagiri_and_Khandagiri_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves">Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves</a>, 2nd century BCE.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Artificial_caves_of_Western_India">Artificial caves of Western India</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Artificial caves of Western India"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Badami_cave_temples" title="Badami cave temples">Badami cave temples</a></div> <p>After the Barabar Caves, huge efforts were made at building religious caves in Western India until the 6th century CE. However, the polishing of cave walls was abandoned, never to be revived. Such grandiose caves as <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a> (1st century CE) or the <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a> (5th century CE) do not have any polishing either. This may be due to the fact that Mauryan caves were dedicated and sponsored by the Mauryan Imperial government, allowing for huge resources and efforts to be spent, whereas later caves where essentially the result of donations by commoners, who could not afford as high a level of spending.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="First_wave_of_construction_(2nd_century_BCE–4th_century_CE)"><span id="First_wave_of_construction_.282nd_century_BCE.E2.80.934th_century_CE.29"></span>First wave of construction (2nd century BCE–4th century CE)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: First wave of construction (2nd century BCE–4th century CE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg/220px-Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="330" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg/330px-Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg/440px-Karla_caves_Chaitya.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1080" data-file-height="1620" /></a><figcaption>The Great Chaitya in the <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra,_India" class="mw-redirect" title="Maharashtra, India">Maharashtra, India</a>, 1st-century CE.</figcaption></figure> <p>Probably owing to the 2nd century BCE fall of the <a href="/wiki/Mauryan_Empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Mauryan Empire">Mauryan Empire</a> and the subsequent persecutions of Buddhism under <a href="/wiki/Pushyamitra_Sunga" class="mw-redirect" title="Pushyamitra Sunga">Pushyamitra Sunga</a>, it is thought that many Buddhists relocated to the <a href="/wiki/Deccan" class="mw-redirect" title="Deccan">Deccan</a> under the protection of the <a href="/wiki/Andhra_dynasty" class="mw-redirect" title="Andhra dynasty">Andhra dynasty</a>, thus shifting the cave-building effort to western India: an enormous effort at creating religious caves (usually Buddhist or Jain) continued there until the 2nd century CE, culminating with the <a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a> or the <a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Pandavleni Caves</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These caves generally followed an <a href="/wiki/Apsidal" class="mw-redirect" title="Apsidal">apsidal</a> plan with a <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> in the back for the <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaityas</a>, and a rectangular plan with surrounding cells for the <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">viharas</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When <a href="/wiki/Buddhist" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist">Buddhist</a> missionaries arrived, they naturally gravitated to caves for use as temples and abodes, in accord with their religious ideas of <a href="/wiki/Asceticism" title="Asceticism">asceticism</a> and the monastic life. The <a href="/wiki/Western_Ghats" title="Western Ghats">Western Ghats</a> topography, with its flat-topped <a href="/wiki/Basalt" title="Basalt">basalt</a> hills, deep <a href="/wiki/Ravine" title="Ravine">ravines</a>, and sharp <a href="/wiki/Cliff" title="Cliff">cliffs</a>, was suited to their cultural inclinations. The earliest of the <a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a> were excavated in the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C., as were those at <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta</a>, which were occupied continuously by Buddhist monks from 200 BCE to 650 AD.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As the Buddhist ideology encouraged involvement in trade, monasteries often became stopovers for inland traders and provided lodging houses along <a href="/wiki/Trade_routes" class="mw-redirect" title="Trade routes">trade routes</a>. As mercantile and royal endowments grew, cave interiors became more elaborate, with interior walls decorated in paintings, reliefs, and intricate carvings. Numerous donors provided the funds for the building of these caves and left donatory inscriptions, including laity, members of the clergy, government officials, and even foreigners such as <i><a href="/wiki/Yavanas" class="mw-redirect" title="Yavanas">Yavanas</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Indo-Greeks" class="mw-redirect" title="Indo-Greeks">Greeks</a>) representing about 8% of all inscriptions.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Facades were added to the exteriors while the interiors became designated for specific uses, such as monasteries (<a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">viharas</a>) and worship halls (<a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">chaityas</a>). Over the centuries, simple caves began to resemble free-standing buildings, needing to be formally designed and requiring highly skilled artisans and craftsmen to complete. These artisans had not forgotten their timber roots and imitated the nuances of a wooden structure and the <a href="/wiki/Wood_grain" title="Wood grain">wood grain</a> in working with stone.<sup id="cite_ref-indoart_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-indoart-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Early examples of rock-cut architecture are the Buddhist and <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a> cave <a href="/wiki/Basadi" class="mw-redirect" title="Basadi">basadi</a>, temples and <a href="/wiki/Monastery" title="Monastery">monasteries</a>, many with <a href="/wiki/Gavaksha" title="Gavaksha">gavakshas</a> (<i>chandrashalas</i>). The ascetic nature of these religions inclined their followers to live in natural caves and grottos in the hillsides, away from the cities, and these became enhanced and embellished over time. Although many temples, monasteries, and stupas had been destroyed, by contrast, cave temples are very well preserved as they are both less visible and therefore less vulnerable to vandalism as well as made of more durable material than wood and masonry. There are around 1200 cave temples still in existence, most of which are Buddhist. The residences of monks were called <a href="/wiki/Viharas" class="mw-redirect" title="Viharas">Viharas</a> and the cave shrines, called <a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">Chaityas</a>, were for congregational worship.<sup id="cite_ref-indoart_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-indoart-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The earliest rock-cut <i><a href="/wiki/Garbhagriha" title="Garbhagriha">garbhagriha</a></i>, similar to free-standing ones later, had an inner circular chamber with pillars to create a <a href="/wiki/Circumambulation" title="Circumambulation">circumambulatory</a> path (<a href="/wiki/Pradakshina" class="mw-redirect" title="Pradakshina">pradakshina</a>) around the <a href="/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">stupa</a> and an outer rectangular hall for the congregation of the devotees. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Ezhadippattam, Sittanavasal Cave, 1st century BCE"><img alt="Ezhadippattam, Sittanavasal Cave, 1st century BCE" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg/200px-Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg/300px-Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg/400px-Sittannavasal-Eladipattam.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Ezhadippattam, <a href="/wiki/Sittanavasal_Cave" title="Sittanavasal Cave">Sittanavasal Cave</a>, 1st century BCE</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:010_Cave_3,_Exterior_(33156264563).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Gautamiputra vihara at Pandavleni Caves built in the 2nd century CE by the Satavahana dynasty."><img alt="Gautamiputra vihara at Pandavleni Caves built in the 2nd century CE by the Satavahana dynasty." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg/200px-010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg/300px-010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg/400px-010_Cave_3%2C_Exterior_%2833156264563%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5133" data-file-height="3422" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Gautamiputra vihara at <a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Pandavleni Caves</a> built in the 2nd century CE by the <a href="/wiki/Satavahana_dynasty" title="Satavahana dynasty">Satavahana dynasty</a>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Manmodi Caves in Junnar, 2nd century CE."><img alt="Manmodi Caves in Junnar, 2nd century CE." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg/133px-Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg" decoding="async" width="133" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg/200px-Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg/266px-Bhutalinga_caves_chaitya.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="1800" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Manmodi_Caves" title="Manmodi Caves">Manmodi Caves</a> in <a href="/wiki/Junnar" title="Junnar">Junnar</a>, 2nd century CE.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Tulja Caves in Junnar."><img alt="Tulja Caves in Junnar." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg/135px-Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg" decoding="async" width="135" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg/203px-Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg/270px-Tulja_lena_caves_group.jpg 2x" data-file-width="692" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Tulja_Caves" title="Tulja Caves">Tulja Caves</a> in <a href="/wiki/Junnar" title="Junnar">Junnar</a>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Nasik_Cave_18.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Chaitya facade at Pandavleni Caves."><img alt="Chaitya facade at Pandavleni Caves." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Nasik_Cave_18.jpg/150px-Nasik_Cave_18.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Nasik_Cave_18.jpg/225px-Nasik_Cave_18.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Nasik_Cave_18.jpg/300px-Nasik_Cave_18.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1919" data-file-height="2557" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Chaitya" title="Chaitya">Chaitya</a> facade at <a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Pandavleni Caves</a>.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Second_wave_of_cave_construction_(5th–6th_century_CE)"><span id="Second_wave_of_cave_construction_.285th.E2.80.936th_century_CE.29"></span>Second wave of cave construction (5th–6th century CE)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Second wave of cave construction (5th–6th century CE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg/220px-Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="314" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg/330px-Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg/440px-Architectural_Beauty_of_Cave_26-Ajanta.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3901" data-file-height="5562" /></a><figcaption>Cave 26 in <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta</a>, circa 480 CE.</figcaption></figure> <p>The construction of caves would wane after the 2nd century CE, possibly due to the rise of <a href="/wiki/Mahayana" title="Mahayana">Mahayana</a> Buddhism and the associated intense architectural and artistic production in <a href="/wiki/Gandhara" title="Gandhara">Gandhara</a> and <a href="/wiki/Amaravati" title="Amaravati">Amaravati</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The building of rock-cut caves would revive briefly in the 6th century CE, with the magnificent achievements of <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora</a>, before finally subsiding as <a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a> replaced <a href="/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism">Buddhism</a> in the sub-continent, and stand-alone temples became more prevalent.<sup id="cite_ref-BA97_20-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Chandra_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Chandra-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a> in <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a>, a World Heritage Site, are 30 rock-cut cave Buddhist temples carved into the sheer vertical side of a gorge near a waterfall-fed pool located in the hills of the <a href="/wiki/Sahyadri" class="mw-redirect" title="Sahyadri">Sahyadri</a> mountains. Like all the locations of Buddhist caves, this one is located near main trade routes and spans six centuries beginning in the 2nd or 1st century B.C.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A period of intense building activity at this site occurred under the <a href="/wiki/Vakataka" class="mw-redirect" title="Vakataka">Vakataka</a> king Harisena between 460 and 478. A profuse variety of decorative sculpture, intricately carved <a href="/wiki/Column" title="Column">columns</a> and carved <a href="/wiki/Relief" title="Relief">reliefs</a> are found, including exquisitely carved <a href="/wiki/Cornice" title="Cornice">cornices</a> and <a href="/wiki/Pilaster" title="Pilaster">pilaster</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-binda_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-binda-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Skilled artisans crafted living rock to imitate timbered wood (such as <a href="/wiki/Lintel_(architecture)" class="mw-redirect" title="Lintel (architecture)">lintels</a>) in construction and grain and intricate decorative carving, although such architectural elements were ornamental and not functional in the classical sense.<sup id="cite_ref-indoart_31-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-indoart-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Later many <a href="/wiki/Hindu" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu">Hindu</a> kings from southern India patronize many cave temples dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. One such prominent example of cave temple architecture are the <a href="/wiki/Badami_Cave_Temples" class="mw-redirect" title="Badami Cave Temples">Badami Cave Temples</a> at Badami, the early <a href="/wiki/Chalukya" class="mw-redirect" title="Chalukya">Chalukya</a> capital, carved out in the 6th century. There are four cave temples hewn from the sides of cliffs, three Hindu and one <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a>, that contain carved architectural elements such as decorative pillars and brackets as well as finely carved sculpture and richly etched ceiling panels. Nearby are many small Buddhist cave shrines.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cave_26,_Ajanta.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monument built under the Vakatakas."><img alt="The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monument built under the Vakatakas." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/200px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="130" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/300px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg/400px-Cave_26%2C_Ajanta.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4100" data-file-height="2662" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a> are 30 <a href="/wiki/Rock_cut_architecture" class="mw-redirect" title="Rock cut architecture">rock-cut</a> Buddhist cave monument built under the Vakatakas.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ajanta_Caves,_India,_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Some of the 29 Ajanta Caves"><img alt="Some of the 29 Ajanta Caves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg/200px-Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg/300px-Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg/400px-Ajanta_Caves%2C_India%2C_Panoramic_view_of_Ajanta_basalt_cliffs_and_caves.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2048" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Some of the 29 <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:061_Cave_4,_Side_View_(34280359075).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A monastery, or vihara, with its square hall surrounded by monks' cells. Ajanta Caves, no. 4."><img alt="A monastery, or vihara, with its square hall surrounded by monks' cells. Ajanta Caves, no. 4." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/200px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/300px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg/400px-061_Cave_4%2C_Side_View_%2834280359075%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A monastery, or <a href="/wiki/Vihara" class="mw-redirect" title="Vihara">vihara</a>, with its square hall surrounded by monks' cells. <a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a>, no. 4.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ellora_cave34_001.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Ellora Caves. Cave 34. The yakshini Ambika, the yakshini of Neminath at a Jain Cave at Ellora"><img alt="Ellora Caves. Cave 34. The yakshini Ambika, the yakshini of Neminath at a Jain Cave at Ellora" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ellora_cave34_001.jpg/133px-Ellora_cave34_001.jpg" decoding="async" width="133" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ellora_cave34_001.jpg/200px-Ellora_cave34_001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ellora_cave34_001.jpg/266px-Ellora_cave34_001.jpg 2x" data-file-width="853" data-file-height="1280" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a>. Cave 34. The <a href="/wiki/Yakshini" title="Yakshini">yakshini</a> <a href="/wiki/Ambika_(Jainism)" title="Ambika (Jainism)">Ambika</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Yakshini" title="Yakshini">yakshini</a> of <a href="/wiki/Neminath" class="mw-redirect" title="Neminath">Neminath</a> at a <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves#The_Jain_caves" title="Ellora Caves">Jain Cave</a> at Ellora</div> </li> </ul> <p>Rock-cut architecture also developed with the apparition of <a href="/wiki/Stepwell" title="Stepwell">stepwells</a> in India, dating from 200 to 400 CE.<sup id="cite_ref-L&B_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L&B-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Subsequently, the construction of wells at Dhank (550–625 CE) and stepped ponds at <a href="/wiki/Bhinmal" title="Bhinmal">Bhinmal</a> (850–950 CE) took place.<sup id="cite_ref-L&B_35-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L&B-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Final_wave_of_cave_construction_(6th–15th_century_CE)"><span id="Final_wave_of_cave_construction_.286th.E2.80.9315th_century_CE.29"></span>Final wave of cave construction (6th–15th century CE)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Final wave of cave construction (6th–15th century CE)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>At Ellora, on the hill to the northeast of the main complex of caves, is a Jain cave temple containing a 16-foot (4.9 m) rock-carved image of Lord Parshvanath with an inscription dated 1234/5 CE. This well preserved image is flanked by Dharaıendra and Padmavati, is still under active worship. The inscription mentions the site as Charana Hill, a holy site.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This was the last excavation at Ellora. The <a href="/wiki/Ankai_Fort" title="Ankai Fort">Ankai Fort</a> caves are thought to be from the same period. </p><p>The final wave of Indian rock-cut cave construction occurred at Gwalior with five clusters of rock-cut monuments surrounding the <a href="/wiki/Gwalior_fort" class="mw-redirect" title="Gwalior fort">Gwalior fort</a>, two centuries after the Ellora Parshvantha cave temple. They contain many monumental Jain images. </p><p>South-West Group: Now termed Trishalagiri.<sup id="cite_ref-webdunia_37-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-webdunia-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The group is the first one encountered when driving to the Urvai Gate, just outside the fortifications. There are the oldest Jain monuments in Gwalior from the post-Gupta period. Archaeologist L.B. Singh dates them to 6th to 8th cent AD.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>South-East Group (Popularly referred to as Ek Patthar Ki Bawadi group or "<a href="/wiki/Gopachal_rock_cut_Jain_monuments" class="mw-redirect" title="Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments">Gopachal Atishya Kshetra</a>"), Urvahi group (<a href="/wiki/Siddhachal_Caves" title="Siddhachal Caves">Siddhachal Caves</a>, North-West group and North-East group were all excavated during the Tomar rule during 1440–1473 AD. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Babur" title="Babur">Babur</a>, who visited Gwalior in AD 1527, ordered the Gwalior statues to be destroyed.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, only the faces of many of colossal Jain images were destroyed, some of them were later repaired by the local Jains. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gwalior_jain.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Jain statues, Siddhachal Caves"><img alt="Jain statues, Siddhachal Caves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Gwalior_jain.jpg/120px-Gwalior_jain.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="117" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Gwalior_jain.jpg/180px-Gwalior_jain.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Gwalior_jain.jpg/240px-Gwalior_jain.jpg 2x" data-file-width="948" data-file-height="922" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Jain statues, <a href="/wiki/Siddhachal_Caves" title="Siddhachal Caves">Siddhachal Caves</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gopachal_(4).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Jain Tirthankar statue, Gopachal"><img alt="Jain Tirthankar statue, Gopachal" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gopachal_%284%29.jpg/90px-Gopachal_%284%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="90" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gopachal_%284%29.jpg/135px-Gopachal_%284%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gopachal_%284%29.jpg/180px-Gopachal_%284%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Jain Tirthankar statue, <a href="/wiki/Gopachal" class="mw-redirect" title="Gopachal">Gopachal</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Image of Mahavira, Samanar Malai, 9th century"><img alt="Image of Mahavira, Samanar Malai, 9th century" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg/105px-Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg" decoding="async" width="105" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg/158px-Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg/211px-Vardhaman_Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3035" data-file-height="3456" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Image of <a href="/wiki/Mahavira" title="Mahavira">Mahavira</a>, <a href="/wiki/Samanar_Malai" class="mw-redirect" title="Samanar Malai">Samanar Malai</a>, 9th century</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Tirumalai cave temple"><img alt="Tirumalai cave temple" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG/120px-Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="81" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG/180px-Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG/240px-Tirumalai_Jain_temple_-_cave_structure.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2896" data-file-height="1944" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Tirumalai_(Jain_complex)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tirumalai (Jain complex)">Tirumalai</a> cave temple</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_(8).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Kalugumalai Jain Beds"><img alt="Kalugumalai Jain Beds" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg/120px-Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg/180px-Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg/240px-Kazhugumalai_Jain_beds_%288%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5184" data-file-height="3456" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Kalugumalai_Jain_Beds" title="Kalugumalai Jain Beds">Kalugumalai Jain Beds</a></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Monolithic_rock-cut_temples">Monolithic rock-cut temples</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Monolithic rock-cut temples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Vsvarahacave.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Varaha Cave Temple 7th century"><img alt="Varaha Cave Temple 7th century" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Vsvarahacave.jpg/200px-Vsvarahacave.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Vsvarahacave.jpg/300px-Vsvarahacave.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Vsvarahacave.jpg/400px-Vsvarahacave.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2272" data-file-height="1704" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Varaha_Cave_Temple" title="Varaha Cave Temple">Varaha Cave Temple</a> 7th century</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ellora_Caves,_India,_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Jain cave 30 at Ellora"><img alt="Jain cave 30 at Ellora" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg/200px-Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg/300px-Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg/400px-Ellora_Caves%2C_India%2C_Shikhar_of_Indra_Sabha_Temple.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2048" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Jain cave 30 at Ellora</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Pancha Rathas monolith rock-cut temples, late 7th century"><img alt="Pancha Rathas monolith rock-cut temples, late 7th century" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg/200px-Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg/300px-Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg/400px-Five_Rath_-_panoramio.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Pancha_Rathas" title="Pancha Rathas">Pancha Rathas</a> monolith rock-cut temples, late 7th century</div> </li> </ul> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Pallava" class="mw-redirect" title="Pallava">Pallava</a> architects started the carving of rock for the creation of monolithic copies of structural temples.<sup id="cite_ref-michael_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-michael-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A feature of the rock-cut cave temple distribution until the time of the early <a href="/wiki/Pallavas" class="mw-redirect" title="Pallavas">Pallavas</a> is that they did not move further south than Arakandanallur, with the solitary exception of Tiruchitrapalli on the south bank of the <a href="/wiki/Kaveri_River" class="mw-redirect" title="Kaveri River">Kaveri River</a>, the traditional southern boundary between north and south. Also, good granite exposures for rock-cut structures were generally not available south of the river.<sup id="cite_ref-rockcut_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rockcut-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A rock cut temple is carved from a large rock and excavated and cut to imitate a wooden or masonry temple with wall decorations and works of art. <a href="/wiki/Pancha_Rathas" title="Pancha Rathas">Pancha Rathas</a> is an example of monolith Indian rock cut architecture dating from the late 7th century located at Mamallapuram, a <a href="/wiki/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site" class="mw-redirect" title="UNESCO World Heritage Site">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Ellora" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora">Ellora</a> cave temple 16, the <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Kailasanathar_Temple" class="mw-redirect" title="Ellora Kailasanathar Temple">Kailash Temple</a>, is singular in that it was excavated from the top down rather than by the usual practice of carving into the scarp of a hillside. The Kailash Temple was created through a single, huge top-down excavation 100 feet deep down into the volcanic <a href="/wiki/Basaltic" class="mw-redirect" title="Basaltic">basaltic</a> cliff rock. It was commissioned in the 8th century by <a href="/wiki/Krishna_I" title="Krishna I">King Krishna I</a> and took more than 100 years to complete.<sup id="cite_ref-monuments_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monuments-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Kailash Temple, or cave 16 as it is known at <a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a> located at <a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Deccan_Plateau" title="Deccan Plateau">Deccan Plateau</a>, is a huge <a href="/wiki/Monolith" title="Monolith">monolithic</a> temple dedicated to <a href="/wiki/Lord_Shiva" class="mw-redirect" title="Lord Shiva">Lord Shiva</a>. There are 34 caves built at this site, but the other 33 caves, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain, were carved into the side of the plateau rock. The effect of the Kailash Temple is that of a free-standing temple surrounded by smaller cave shrines carved out of the same black rock. The Kailash Temple is carved with figures of gods and goddesses from the Hindu <a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a>, along with mystical beings like the heavenly nymphs and musicians and figures of good fortune and fertility.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ellora Caves is also a <a href="/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Site</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There is no timeline that divides the creation of rock-cut temples and free-standing temples built with cut stone as they developed in parallel. The building of free-standing structures, especially Buddhist temples, began in the 3rd century BCE, whereas Hindu temples started to be built from the 5th century CE.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Meanwhile, rock cut temples continued to be excavated until the 12th century. </p> <div class="thumb tnone" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;overflow:hidden;width:auto;max-width:808px"><div class="thumbinner"><div class="noresize" style="overflow:auto"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The Descent of the Ganges, also known as Arjuna's Penance, at Mamallapuram, is one of the largest rock reliefs in Asia and features in several Hindu myths."><img alt="Large rock reliefs with elephants" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg/800px-Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg" decoding="async" width="800" height="246" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg/1200px-Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg/1600px-Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3476" data-file-height="1071" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption" style="text-align:center"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Mahabalipuram_pano2.jpg" title="File:Mahabalipuram pano2.jpg"> </a></div>The <i><a href="/wiki/Descent_of_the_Ganges_(Mahabalipuram)" title="Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)">Descent of the Ganges</a></i>, also known as <i>Arjuna's Penance</i>, at <a href="/wiki/Mamallapuram" title="Mamallapuram">Mamallapuram</a>, is one of the largest rock reliefs in Asia and features in several Hindu myths.</div></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Stepwells">Stepwells</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Stepwells"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:ChandBaori.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/ChandBaori.jpg/220px-ChandBaori.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/ChandBaori.jpg/330px-ChandBaori.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/ChandBaori.jpg/440px-ChandBaori.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1779" data-file-height="1155" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Chand_Baori" title="Chand Baori">Chand Baori</a>, Abhaneri near <a href="/wiki/Bandikui" title="Bandikui">Bandikui</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rajasthan" title="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</a>, is one of the deepest and largest <a href="/wiki/Stepwell" title="Stepwell">stepwells</a> in India</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Stepwell" title="Stepwell">Stepwell</a></div> <p>The stepwell is a large hole in the ground with steps at one or more sides. They are used in India to collect and conserve water from the <a href="/wiki/Monsoon" title="Monsoon">monsoon</a> rains, for use in the dry season. The steps allow access to the water whatever level it is at. They have a history of around 4,000 years in India, first appearing in the Bronze Age <a href="/wiki/Indus_Valley_civilization" class="mw-redirect" title="Indus Valley civilization">Indus Valley civilization</a>, reappearing around the 5th century CE, and then constructed until relatively recent times, with some still in use. Many have walls lined with stone brought from elsewhere for the purpose, but many are truly rock-cut. The most elaborate are highly decorated. They are mostly found in drier states such as <a href="/wiki/Gujarat" title="Gujarat">Gujarat</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rajasthan" title="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Famous examples include: <a href="/wiki/Chand_Baori" title="Chand Baori">Chand Baori</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rani_ki_vav" class="mw-redirect" title="Rani ki vav">Rani ki vav</a>, <a href="/wiki/Step-well_of_Ambapur" class="mw-redirect" title="Step-well of Ambapur">Step-well of Ambapur</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Dada_Harir_Stepwell" title="Dada Harir Stepwell">Dada Harir Stepwell</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Gallery">Gallery</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Gallery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Jain Badami cave"><img alt="Jain Badami cave" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg/200px-Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg/300px-Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg/400px-Entrance_of_the_Badami_cave_temple_no.4.jpg 2x" data-file-width="480" data-file-height="360" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Jain Badami cave</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Entrance of Rockcut cave temple (Similar style as Barabar Caves) at Guntupalle, Andhra Pradesh"><img alt="Entrance of Rockcut cave temple (Similar style as Barabar Caves) at Guntupalle, Andhra Pradesh" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG/200px-Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG/300px-Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG/400px-Entrance_of_Rock-cut_temple.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3264" data-file-height="2448" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Entrance of Rockcut cave temple (Similar style as Barabar Caves) at Guntupalle, <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kanheri-beds.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Advanced beds in early viharas at Kanheri Caves"><img alt="Advanced beds in early viharas at Kanheri Caves" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Kanheri-beds.jpg/200px-Kanheri-beds.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Kanheri-beds.jpg/300px-Kanheri-beds.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Kanheri-beds.jpg/400px-Kanheri-beds.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="375" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Advanced beds in early <a href="/wiki/Viharas" class="mw-redirect" title="Viharas">viharas</a> at <a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kanheri_steps.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Rock cut stair leading to Kanheri"><img alt="Rock cut stair leading to Kanheri" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Kanheri_steps.jpg/149px-Kanheri_steps.jpg" decoding="async" width="149" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Kanheri_steps.jpg/224px-Kanheri_steps.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Kanheri_steps.jpg/299px-Kanheri_steps.jpg 2x" data-file-width="374" data-file-height="500" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Rock cut stair leading to Kanheri</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Guntupalle Rockcut Caves, Andhra Pradesh"><img alt="Guntupalle Rockcut Caves, Andhra Pradesh" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG/200px-Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG/300px-Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG/400px-Caves_on_Dhammalingesvarasvami_Hill_03.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3264" data-file-height="2448" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Guntupalle Rockcut Caves, <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Rock cut Buddha statues, Bojjannakonda"><img alt="Rock cut Buddha statues, Bojjannakonda" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg/200px-Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="121" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg/300px-Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg/400px-Bojjana_Konda_statue_06.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1791" data-file-height="1080" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Rock cut Buddha statues, <a href="/wiki/Bojjannakonda" title="Bojjannakonda">Bojjannakonda</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="View of large Rock cut stone Stupas at Lingalakonda, Andhra Pradesh"><img alt="View of large Rock cut stone Stupas at Lingalakonda, Andhra Pradesh" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg/200px-View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg/300px-View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg/400px-View_of_large_Rock_cut_stone_Stupas_at_Lingalakonda.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2560" data-file-height="1920" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">View of large Rock cut stone Stupas at Lingalakonda, Andhra Pradesh</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Rock-cut_monuments_in_India">Rock-cut monuments in India</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Rock-cut monuments in India"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aihole" title="Aihole">Aihole</a> has 3 <a href="/wiki/Jainism" title="Jainism">Jaina</a> temple</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Badami_Cave_Temples" class="mw-redirect" title="Badami Cave Temples">Badami Cave Temples</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a> has 12 <a href="/wiki/Buddhist" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist">Buddhist</a>, 17 <a href="/wiki/Hindu" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu">Hindu</a> and 5 <a href="/wiki/Jain" class="mw-redirect" title="Jain">Jain</a> temples.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gopachal_rock_cut_Jain_monuments" class="mw-redirect" title="Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments">Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments</a>, Gwalior</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lenyadri_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Lenyadri Caves">Lenyadri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mahabalipuram" class="mw-redirect" title="Mahabalipuram">Mahabalipuram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pancha_Rathas" title="Pancha Rathas">Pancha Rathas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalugumalai_Jain_Beds" title="Kalugumalai Jain Beds">Kazhuku Malai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Pandavleni Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora" title="Pitalkhora">Pitalkhora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Undavalli_caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Undavalli caves">Undavalli caves</a>, <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Varaha_Cave_Temple" title="Varaha Cave Temple">Varaha Cave Temple</a> at <a href="/wiki/Mamallapuram" title="Mamallapuram">Mamallapuram</a></li> <li>Masroor Temple at Kangra</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bojjannakonda" title="Bojjannakonda">Bojjannakonda</a> Buddhist Site, <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></li> <li>Guntupalle Buddhist Site, <a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramatheertham" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramatheertham">Ramatheertham</a>, Andhra Pradesh</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gommateshwara_statue" title="Gommateshwara statue">Gommateshwara statue</a>, <a href="/wiki/Shravanabelagola" title="Shravanabelagola">Shravanabelagola</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cave_research_in_India" title="Cave research in India">Cave research in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_caves#India" title="List of caves">List of Caves in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_rock-cut_temples_in_India" title="List of rock-cut temples in India">List of rock-cut temples in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rock_relief" title="Rock relief">Rock relief</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World" class="mw-redirect" title="New Seven Wonders of the World">New Seven Wonders of the World</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_archaeological_sites_sorted_by_country" class="mw-redirect" title="List of archaeological sites sorted by country">List of archaeological sites sorted by country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_colossal_sculpture_in_situ" class="mw-redirect" title="List of colossal sculpture in situ">List of colossal sculpture in situ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_megalithic_sites" class="mw-redirect" title="List of megalithic sites">List of megalithic sites</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=1527&HistoryID=ab27">"History of Architecture – Early civilizations"</a>. historyworld.net<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=History+of+Architecture+%E2%80%93+Early+civilizations&rft.pub=historyworld.net&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.historyworld.net%2Fwrldhis%2FPlainTextHistories.asp%3Fgroupid%3D1527%26HistoryID%3Dab27&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-glossary-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-glossary_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKamiya" class="citation web cs1">Kamiya, Takeo. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061106230700/http://www.indoarch.org/intro_arch.php">"Introduction to Indian Architecture"</a>. indoarch.org. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.indoarch.org/intro_arch.php">the original</a> on 2006-11-06<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Introduction+to+Indian+Architecture&rft.pub=indoarch.org&rft.aulast=Kamiya&rft.aufirst=Takeo&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indoarch.org%2Fintro_arch.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-boloji-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-boloji_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNangia" class="citation web cs1">Nangia, Ashish. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100114070456/http://boloji.com/architecture/00007.htm">"Indian Rock-cut Architecture by Ashish Nangia"</a>. www.boloji.com. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00007.htm">the original</a> on 2010-01-14<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2009-10-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Indian+Rock-cut+Architecture+by+Ashish+Nangia&rft.pub=www.boloji.com&rft.aulast=Nangia&rft.aufirst=Ashish&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boloji.com%2Farchitecture%2F00007.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wondermondo.com/Best/As/IndRockCut.htm">"10 most amazing ancient rock cut structures in India"</a>. Wondermondo. 10 October 2011.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=10+most+amazing+ancient+rock+cut+structures+in+India&rft.pub=Wondermondo&rft.date=2011-10-10&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wondermondo.com%2FBest%2FAs%2FIndRockCut.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-michael-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-michael_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-michael_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMichael1988" class="citation book cs1">Michael, George (1988). <i>The Hindu Temple</i>. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago. pp. 69, 82. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-226-53230-5" title="Special:BookSources/0-226-53230-5"><bdi>0-226-53230-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Hindu+Temple&rft.place=Chicago%2C+Illinois&rft.pages=69%2C+82&rft.pub=University+of+Chicago&rft.date=1988&rft.isbn=0-226-53230-5&rft.aulast=Michael&rft.aufirst=George&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-keay-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-keay_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKeay2000" class="citation book cs1">Keay, John (2000). <i>India: A History</i>. New York: Grove Press. pp. 103, 124–127. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8021-3797-0" title="Special:BookSources/0-8021-3797-0"><bdi>0-8021-3797-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=India%3A+A+History&rft.place=New+York&rft.pages=103%2C+124-127&rft.pub=Grove+Press&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=0-8021-3797-0&rft.aulast=Keay&rft.aufirst=John&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rockcut2-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rockcut2_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRajan1998" class="citation book cs1">Rajan, K.V. Soundara (1998). <i>Rock-cut Temple Styles'<span></span></i>. Mumbai, India: Somaily Publications. pp. 9–10, 23, 160–161. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7" title="Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7"><bdi>81-7039-218-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Rock-cut+Temple+Styles%27&rft.place=Mumbai%2C+India&rft.pages=9-10%2C+23%2C+160-161&rft.pub=Somaily+Publications&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=81-7039-218-7&rft.aulast=Rajan&rft.aufirst=K.V.+Soundara&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SG-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-SG_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGanvir" class="citation book cs1">Ganvir, Shrikant. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200403014734/https://www.academia.edu/33794798/Newly_Discovered_Buddhist_Rock-cut_Caves_of_Maharashtra_An_Appraisal"><i>Newly Discovered Buddhist Rock-cut Caves of Maharashtra: An Appraisal</i></a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.academia.edu/33794798">the original</a> on 2020-04-03<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-01-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Newly+Discovered+Buddhist+Rock-cut+Caves+of+Maharashtra%3A+An+Appraisal&rft.aulast=Ganvir&rft.aufirst=Shrikant&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F33794798&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-art-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-art_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/bhi1.html">"Prehistoric Rock Art"</a>. art-and-archaeology.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-10-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Prehistoric+Rock+Art&rft.pub=art-and-archaeology.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.art-and-archaeology.com%2Findia%2Fbhi1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-YM-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-YM_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMathpal1984" class="citation book cs1">Mathpal, Yashodhar (1984). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GG7-CpvlU30C&pg=PA220"><i>Prehistoric Painting Of Bhimbetka</i></a>. Abhinav Publications. p. 220. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788170171935" title="Special:BookSources/9788170171935"><bdi>9788170171935</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Prehistoric+Painting+Of+Bhimbetka&rft.pages=220&rft.pub=Abhinav+Publications&rft.date=1984&rft.isbn=9788170171935&rft.aulast=Mathpal&rft.aufirst=Yashodhar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DGG7-CpvlU30C%26pg%3DPA220&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SKT-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-SKT_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFTiwari2000" class="citation book cs1">Tiwari, Shiv Kumar (2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=-jO0fvT4r9gC&pg=PA189"><i>Riddles of Indian Rockshelter Paintings</i></a>. Sarup & Sons. p. 189. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788176250863" title="Special:BookSources/9788176250863"><bdi>9788176250863</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Riddles+of+Indian+Rockshelter+Paintings&rft.pages=189&rft.pub=Sarup+%26+Sons&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=9788176250863&rft.aulast=Tiwari&rft.aufirst=Shiv+Kumar&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D-jO0fvT4r9gC%26pg%3DPA189&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-RSB-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-RSB_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/925.pdf"><i>Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. UNESCO. 2003. p. 16.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Rock+Shelters+of+Bhimbetka&rft.pages=16&rft.pub=UNESCO&rft.date=2003&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fuploads%2Fnominations%2F925.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SM-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-SM_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMithen2011" class="citation book cs1">Mithen, Steven (2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Uaxg_QDSsrQC&pg=PT524"><i>After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20,000 - 5000 BC</i></a>. Orion. p. 524. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781780222592" title="Special:BookSources/9781780222592"><bdi>9781780222592</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=After+the+Ice%3A+A+Global+Human+History%2C+20%2C000+-+5000+BC&rft.pages=524&rft.pub=Orion&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=9781780222592&rft.aulast=Mithen&rft.aufirst=Steven&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DUaxg_QDSsrQC%26pg%3DPT524&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-AJ-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-AJ_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJavidJāvīdJaveed2008" class="citation book cs1">Javid, Ali; Jāvīd, ʻAlī; Javeed, Tabassum (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=54XBlIF9LFgC&pg=PA19"><i>World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India</i></a>. Algora Publishing. p. 19. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780875864846" title="Special:BookSources/9780875864846"><bdi>9780875864846</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=World+Heritage+Monuments+and+Related+Edifices+in+India&rft.pages=19&rft.pub=Algora+Publishing&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=9780875864846&rft.aulast=Javid&rft.aufirst=Ali&rft.au=J%C4%81v%C4%ABd%2C+%CA%BBAl%C4%AB&rft.au=Javeed%2C+Tabassum&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D54XBlIF9LFgC%26pg%3DPA19&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Gwynne2017-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Gwynne2017_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Gwynne2017_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPaul_Gwynne2017" class="citation book cs1">Paul Gwynne (30 May 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sU8nDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51"><i>World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction</i></a>. Wiley. pp. 51–52. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-97228-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-118-97228-1"><bdi>978-1-118-97228-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=World+Religions+in+Practice%3A+A+Comparative+Introduction&rft.pages=51-52&rft.pub=Wiley&rft.date=2017-05-30&rft.isbn=978-1-118-97228-1&rft.au=Paul+Gwynne&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DsU8nDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA51&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJules_Barthélemy_Saint-Hilaire1914" class="citation book cs1">Jules Barthélemy Saint-Hilaire (1914). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.174994"><i>The Buddha and His Religion</i></a>. Trübner. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.174994/page/n367">376</a>–377.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddha+and+His+Religion&rft.pages=376-377&rft.pub=Tr%C3%BCbner&rft.date=1914&rft.au=Jules+Barth%C3%A9lemy+Saint-Hilaire&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fin.ernet.dli.2015.174994&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/1Digha-Nikaya/Digha2/16-mahaparinibbana-e2.html">Digha Nikaya 16</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180831102613/http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/1Digha-Nikaya/Digha2/16-mahaparinibbana-e2.html">Archived</a> 2018-08-31 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Maha-Parinibbana Sutta, Last Days of the Buddha, Buddhist Publication Society</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Jain1991p66-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Jain1991p66_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKailash_Chand_Jain1991" class="citation book cs1">Kailash Chand Jain (1991). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8-TxcO9dfrcC&pg=PA66"><i>Lord Mahāvīra and His Times</i></a>. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 66. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-208-0805-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-208-0805-8"><bdi>978-81-208-0805-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Lord+Mah%C4%81v%C4%ABra+and+His+Times&rft.pages=66&rft.pub=Motilal+Banarsidass&rft.date=1991&rft.isbn=978-81-208-0805-8&rft.au=Kailash+Chand+Jain&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D8-TxcO9dfrcC%26pg%3DPA66&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFChakrabartia1976" class="citation journal cs1">Chakrabartia, Dilip K (1976). "Rājagriha: An early historic site in East India". <i>World Archaeology</i>. <b>7</b> (3): 261–268. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00438243.1976.9979639">10.1080/00438243.1976.9979639</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=World+Archaeology&rft.atitle=R%C4%81jagriha%3A+An+early+historic+site+in+East+India&rft.volume=7&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=261-268&rft.date=1976&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F00438243.1976.9979639&rft.aulast=Chakrabartia&rft.aufirst=Dilip+K&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-BA97-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-BA97_20-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Buddhist Architecture, Lee Huu Phuoc, Grafikol 2009, pp. 97–99</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-NL-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-NL_21-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ashoka in Ancient India by Nayanjot Lahiri <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA231">p. 231</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123124637/https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA231">Archived</a> 2022-11-23 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Chandra-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Chandra_22-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Chandra_22-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Chandra, Pramod (2008), <i>South Asian arts</i>, Encyclopædia Britannica.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Gupta_p.194-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Gupta_p.194_23-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Gupta_p.194_23-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Gupta, The roots of Indian Art, p.194-</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEBhargava2006357-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBhargava2006357_24-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFBhargava2006">Bhargava 2006</a>, p. 357.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEKrishanTadikonda199623-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKrishanTadikonda199623_25-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFKrishanTadikonda1996">Krishan & Tadikonda 1996</a>, p. 23.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEPandya20146-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPandya20146_26-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFPandya2014">Pandya 2014</a>, p. 6.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist architecture, p.99</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/">"World Heritage Site – Ajanta Caves"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=World+Heritage+Site+%E2%80%93+Ajanta+Caves&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Flist%2F242%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070404010619/http://www.tourismofindia.com/hiwhh/ajantacaves.htm">"Ajanta Caves"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tourismofindia.com/hiwhh/ajantacaves.htm">the original</a> on 2007-04-04<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ajanta+Caves&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tourismofindia.com%2Fhiwhh%2Fajantacaves.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Buddhist architecture, Lee Huu Phuoc, Grafikol 2009, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA99">p.98-99</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123124637/https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99">Archived</a> 2022-11-23 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-indoart-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-indoart_31-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-indoart_31-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-indoart_31-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061211225611/http://indoarch.org/arch_thr_ages.php">"Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent – Classification of Indian Architecture through the Ages"</a>. www.indoart.org. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.indoarch.org/arch_thr_ages.php">the original</a> on 2006-12-11<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-06-26</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Architecture+of+the+Indian+Subcontinent+%E2%80%93+Classification+of+Indian+Architecture+through+the+Ages&rft.pub=www.indoart.org&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indoarch.org%2Farch_thr_ages.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000421030930/http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Ajanta.html">"Ajanta"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Ajanta.html">the original</a> on April 21, 2000<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ajanta&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sscnet.ucla.edu%2Fsouthasia%2FCulture%2FArchit%2FAjanta.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-binda-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-binda_33-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFThapar2004" class="citation book cs1">Thapar, Binda (2004). <i>Introduction to Indian Architecture</i>. Singapore: Periplus Editions. pp. 36–37, 51. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7946-0011-5" title="Special:BookSources/0-7946-0011-5"><bdi>0-7946-0011-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Introduction+to+Indian+Architecture&rft.place=Singapore&rft.pages=36-37%2C+51&rft.pub=Periplus+Editions&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=0-7946-0011-5&rft.aulast=Thapar&rft.aufirst=Binda&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/badami/baplan.html">"Badami (Western Chalukya)"</a>. art-and-archaeology.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Badami+%28Western+Chalukya%29&rft.pub=art-and-archaeology.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.art-and-archaeology.com%2Findia%2Fbadami%2Fbaplan.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-L&B-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-L&B_35-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-L&B_35-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Livingston & Beach, xxiii</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Lisa Nadine Owen, Beyond Buddhist and Brahmanical Activity: The Place of the Jain Rock-Cut Excavations at Ellora, PhD thesis 2006, University of Texas at Austin p. 255</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-webdunia-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-webdunia_37-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hindi.webdunia.com/article/jain-religion/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B2-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B9-107081100049_1.htm">"गोपाचल का त्रिशलगिरि समूह | Webdunia Hindi"</a>. <i>hindi.webdunia.com</i>. 2007-08-11<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-07-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=hindi.webdunia.com&rft.atitle=%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B9+%26%23124%3B+Webdunia+Hindi&rft.date=2007-08-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fhindi.webdunia.com%2Farticle%2Fjain-religion%2F%25E0%25A4%2597%25E0%25A5%258B%25E0%25A4%25AA%25E0%25A4%25BE%25E0%25A4%259A%25E0%25A4%25B2-%25E0%25A4%2595%25E0%25A4%25BE-%25E0%25A4%25A4%25E0%25A5%258D%25E0%25A4%25B0%25E0%25A4%25BF%25E0%25A4%25B6%25E0%25A4%25B2%25E0%25A4%2597%25E0%25A4%25BF%25E0%25A4%25B0%25E0%25A4%25BF-%25E0%25A4%25B8%25E0%25A4%25AE%25E0%25A5%2582%25E0%25A4%25B9-107081100049_1.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">L. B. Singh, Puratattva, May 2005</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gwalior Fort: Rock Sculptures, A Cunningham, Archaeological Survey of India, pp. 364–370</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rockcut-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rockcut_40-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRajan1998" class="citation book cs1">Rajan, K.V. Soundara (1998). <i>Rock-cut Temple Styles'<span></span></i>. Mumbai, India: Somaily Publications. pp. 9–10, 23. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7" title="Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7"><bdi>81-7039-218-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Rock-cut+Temple+Styles%27&rft.place=Mumbai%2C+India&rft.pages=9-10%2C+23&rft.pub=Somaily+Publications&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=81-7039-218-7&rft.aulast=Rajan&rft.aufirst=K.V.+Soundara&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-monuments-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-monuments_41-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/india.html">"Monuments of India"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Monuments+of+India&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.art-and-archaeology.com%2Findia%2Findia.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070118144723/http://www.lib.lfc.edu/collections/benton/data/research/Ellora/albums/kailash_rock-cut_temple/index.htm">"Kailash Rock Cut Temple"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lib.lfc.edu/collections/benton/data/research/Ellora/albums/kailash_rock-cut_temple/index.htm">the original</a> on 2007-01-18<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-01-26</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Kailash+Rock+Cut+Temple&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lib.lfc.edu%2Fcollections%2Fbenton%2Fdata%2Fresearch%2FEllora%2Falbums%2Fkailash_rock-cut_temple%2Findex.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/243">"Ellora UNESCO World Heritage Site"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-19</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ellora+UNESCO+World+Heritage+Site&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Flist%2F243&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, pp. 233–235</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Milo_Beach" class="mw-redirect" title="Milo Beach">Beach, Milo</a>, <i>Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India</i>, (Photographs by Morna Livingston), 2002, Princeton Architectural Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1568983247" title="Special:BookSources/1568983247">1568983247</a>, 9781568983240, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=KoVCliqcmIIC&pg=PA21">google books</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221123124637/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KoVCliqcmIIC&pg=PA21">Archived</a> 2022-11-23 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-9322383">"Ellora Caves"</a>. Encyclopædia Britannica<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-12-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ellora+Caves&rft.pub=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Febi%2Farticle-9322383&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBhargava2006" class="citation book cs1">Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=iDsORXsjZ5QC"><i>Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Orissa, Volume 21</i></a>. Gyan Publishing House. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788178353777" title="Special:BookSources/9788178353777"><bdi>9788178353777</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Land+and+People+of+Indian+States+and+Union+Territories%3A+In+36+Volumes.+Orissa%2C+Volume+21&rft.pub=Gyan+Publishing+House&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=9788178353777&rft.aulast=Bhargava&rft.aufirst=Gopal+K.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DiDsORXsjZ5QC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Dehejia, V. (1972). <i>Early Buddhist Rock Temples</i>. Thames and Hudson: London. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-500-69001-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-500-69001-4">0-500-69001-4</a>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFergusson1864" class="citation book cs1">Fergusson, James (1864). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/stream/rockcuttemplesof00ferg#page/n5/mode/2up"><i>The Rock-Cut Temples of India</i></a>. John Murray, London.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Rock-Cut+Temples+of+India&rft.pub=John+Murray%2C+London&rft.date=1864&rft.aulast=Fergusson&rft.aufirst=James&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fstream%2Frockcuttemplesof00ferg%23page%2Fn5%2Fmode%2F2up&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKrishanTadikonda1996" class="citation cs2">Krishan, Yuvraj; Tadikonda, Kalpana K. (1996), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kDyJh--iaL0C"><i>The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development</i></a>, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788121505659" title="Special:BookSources/9788121505659"><bdi>9788121505659</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Buddha+Image%3A+Its+Origin+and+Development&rft.pub=Bharatiya+Vidya+Bhavan&rft.date=1996&rft.isbn=9788121505659&rft.aulast=Krishan&rft.aufirst=Yuvraj&rft.au=Tadikonda%2C+Kalpana+K.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkDyJh--iaL0C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPandya2014" class="citation cs2">Pandya, Prashant H. (2014), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=bBd_BAAAQBAJ"><i>Indian Philately Digest</i></a>, Indian Philatelists' Forum</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Indian+Philately+Digest&rft.pub=Indian+Philatelists%27+Forum&rft.date=2014&rft.aulast=Pandya&rft.aufirst=Prashant+H.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DbBd_BAAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIndian+rock-cut+architecture" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Rajan, K.V. Soundara (1998). <i>Rock-Cut Temple Styles</i>. Somaiya Publications: Mumbai. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7" title="Special:BookSources/81-7039-218-7">81-7039-218-7</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_099_000/bhaja/bhaja.html">Photos of rock-cut Bhaja cave</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vishwakala.net">India rock cut Temples Study Project and Photos of Sculpture</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101231093130/http://vishwakala.net/">Archived</a> 2010-12-31 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=1527&HistoryID=ab27">History of Architecture Site</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/architecture/style_level4.php?id=266&parent=259&object=188&area=0&ext=.swf">Architectural Styles</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9402E4DE1238F93AA2575BC0A962948260">New York Times article 'Rock-cut temple of the many faced God', August 19, 1984</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2002sem2/Art_and_Art_History/265/handout4.html">St. Olaf College Art Course Handouts</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103012/http://www.stolaf.edu/courses/2002sem2/Art_and_Art_History/265/handout4.html">Archived</a> 2007-09-29 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/243/">Ellora Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.kamit.jp/07_lycia/liki_eng.htm">Lycian Influence to the IndianCave Temples</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249/">Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram UNESCO World Heritage Site</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=244">Elephanta Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=925">UNESCO World Heritage: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.indian-heritage.org/sculpture/rockut.htm">Indian rock cut temples</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061120002223/http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/travel/05caves.html">In the Holy Caves of India</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lib.lfc.edu/collections/benton/data/research/Ellora/albums/kailash_rock-cut_temple/index.htm">Kailesh Rock Cut Temple</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070118144723/http://www.lib.lfc.edu/collections/benton/data/research/Ellora/albums/kailash_rock-cut_temple/index.htm">Archived</a> 2007-01-18 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.kalakeralam.com/handicrafts/keralatemples.htm">Kerala Temple Architecture</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/deccan/pallava_arts.htm">Pallava Art and Architecture</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-architecture/ancient-architecture/cave-architecture.html">Cave architecture</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dkagencies.com/doc/from/1063/to/1123/bkId/DK5566523324983532225226331371/details.html">The rock-cut temples of western India</a></li> <li>Articles on Early and Later Western Indian Caves <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2419/stories/20071005505506600.htm">Part 1 (Early)</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2423/stories/20071207505906600.htm">Part 2 (Later)</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Indian_Buddhist_caves" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#FFA500;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Template:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Template talk:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Indian_Buddhist_Caves" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Indian Buddhist Caves"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Indian_Buddhist_caves" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_caves_in_India" title="Buddhist caves in India">Indian Buddhist caves</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Nandalur" title="Nandalur">Adapur Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Belum_Caves" title="Belum Caves">Belum Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandavaram_Buddhist_site" title="Chandavaram Buddhist site">Chandavaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Erravaram_Caves" title="Erravaram Caves">Erravaram Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guntupalli_Group_of_Buddhist_Monuments" title="Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments">Guntupalli Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kotturu_Dhanadibbalu" title="Kotturu Dhanadibbalu">Kotturu Dhanadibbalu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Peddapuram" title="Peddapuram">Pandavula Metta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramateertham" title="Ramateertham">Ramateertham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bojjannakonda" title="Bojjannakonda">Sankaram</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Undavalli_Caves" title="Undavalli Caves">Undavalli Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indrasala_Cave" title="Indrasala Cave">Indrasala Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vulture_Peak" title="Vulture Peak">Vulture Peak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saptaparni_Cave" title="Saptaparni Cave">Saptaparni Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lomas_Rishi_Cave" title="Lomas Rishi Cave">Lomas Rishi Cave</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Gujarat" title="Gujarat">Gujarat</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dhank_Caves" title="Dhank Caves">Dhank Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Junagadh_Buddhist_Cave_Groups" title="Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups">Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Khapra_Kodiya_Caves" title="Khapra Kodiya Caves">Khapra Kodiya Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bava_Pyara_Caves" title="Bava Pyara Caves">Bava Pyara Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uparkot_Caves" title="Uparkot Caves">Uparkot Caves</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kadia_Dungar_Caves" title="Kadia Dungar Caves">Kadia Dungar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khambhalida_Caves" title="Khambhalida Caves">Khambhalida Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sana_Caves" title="Sana Caves">Sana Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siyot_Caves" title="Siyot Caves">Siyot Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Talaja_Caves" title="Talaja Caves">Talaja Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aihole" title="Aihole">Aihole</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Badami_cave_temples" title="Badami cave temples">Badami cave temples</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pandava_Caves" title="Pandava Caves">Pandava Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh" title="Madhya Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bagh_Caves" title="Bagh Caves">Bagh Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dhamnar_Caves" title="Dhamnar Caves">Dhamnar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saru_Maru" title="Saru Maru">Saru Maru</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ajanta_Caves" title="Ajanta Caves">Ajanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ambivali_Caves" title="Ambivali Caves">Ambivali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aurangabad_Caves" title="Aurangabad Caves">Aurangabad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bahrot_Caves" title="Bahrot Caves">Bahrot Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bedse_Caves" title="Bedse Caves">Bedse Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhaja_Caves" title="Bhaja Caves">Bhaja Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dharashiv_Caves" title="Dharashiv Caves">Dharashiv Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gandharpale_Caves" title="Gandharpale Caves">Mahad/Gandharpale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ghatotkacha_Caves" title="Ghatotkacha Caves">Ghatotkacha Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ghorawadi_Caves" title="Ghorawadi Caves">Ghorawadi/Shelarwadi Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karla_Caves" title="Karla Caves">Karla Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karad_Caves" title="Karad Caves">Karad Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khed_Caves" title="Khed Caves">Khed Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kondana_Caves" title="Kondana Caves">Kondana Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kuda_Caves" title="Kuda Caves">Kuda Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nenavali_Caves" title="Nenavali Caves">Nenavali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nasik_Caves" title="Nasik Caves">Nasik/Pandavleni Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Panhalakaji_Caves" title="Panhalakaji Caves">Panhalakaji Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patan_caves" title="Patan caves">Patan caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pitalkhora" title="Pitalkhora">Pitalkhora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pohale_Caves" title="Pohale Caves">Pohale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shirwal_Caves" title="Shirwal Caves">Shirwal Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thanale_Caves" title="Thanale Caves">Nadsur/Thanale Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vijasan_Caves" title="Vijasan Caves">Vijasan Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wai_Caves" title="Wai Caves">Wai Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yerphal_Caves" title="Yerphal Caves">Yerphal Caves</a></li></ul> <p><b>In the <a href="/wiki/Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a> area:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Elephanta_Caves" title="Elephanta Caves">Elephanta Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jogeshwari_Caves" title="Jogeshwari Caves">Jogeshwari Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mahakali_Caves" title="Mahakali Caves">Kondivite/Mahakali Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mandapeshwar_Caves" title="Mandapeshwar Caves">Mandapeshwar Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kanheri_Caves" title="Kanheri Caves">Kanheri Caves</a></li></ul> <p><b>In the <a href="/wiki/Junnar" title="Junnar">Junnar</a> area:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lenyadri" title="Lenyadri">Lenyadri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manmodi_Caves" title="Manmodi Caves">Manmodi Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shivneri_Caves" title="Shivneri Caves">Shivneri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tulja_Caves" title="Tulja Caves">Tulja Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rajasthan" title="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Binnayaga_Buddhist_Caves" title="Binnayaga Buddhist Caves">Binnayaga Buddhist Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hathiagor_Buddhist_Caves" title="Hathiagor Buddhist Caves">Hathiagor Buddhist Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kolvi_Caves" title="Kolvi Caves">Kolvi Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Jain_Caves_in_India" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#FFA500;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Jain_Caves_in_India" title="Template:Jain Caves in India"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Jain_Caves_in_India" title="Template talk:Jain Caves in India"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Jain_Caves_in_India" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Jain Caves in India"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Jain_Caves_in_India" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Jain Caves in India</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh" title="Andhra Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Undavalli_Caves" title="Undavalli Caves">Undavalli Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Bihar" title="Bihar">Bihar</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Son_Bhandar_Caves" title="Son Bhandar Caves">Son Bhandar Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Gujarat" title="Gujarat">Gujarat</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bava_Pyara_Caves" title="Bava Pyara Caves">Bava Pyara Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dhank_Caves" title="Dhank Caves">Dhank Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Talaja_Caves" title="Talaja Caves">Talaja Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Badami_cave_temples" title="Badami cave temples">Badami cave temples</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aihole" title="Aihole">Aihole</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh" title="Madhya Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Siddhachal_Caves" title="Siddhachal Caves">Siddhachal Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gopachal_rock_cut_Jain_monuments" class="mw-redirect" title="Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments">Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udayagiri_Caves" title="Udayagiri Caves">Udayagiri Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Maharashtra" title="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ellora_Caves" title="Ellora Caves">Ellora Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pandavleni_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandavleni Caves">Nashik Caves/Pandav Leni</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mangi-Tungi" title="Mangi-Tungi">Mangi-Tungi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dharashiv_Caves" title="Dharashiv Caves">Dharashiv Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Odisha" title="Odisha">Odisha</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Udayagiri_and_Khandagiri_Caves" class="mw-redirect" title="Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves">Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Belum_Caves" title="Belum Caves">Belum Caves</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFA500;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Samanar_Hills" title="Samanar Hills">Samanar Hills</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalugumalai_Jain_Beds" title="Kalugumalai Jain Beds">Kalugumalai Jain Beds</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sittanavasal_Cave" title="Sittanavasal Cave">Sittanavasal Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armamalai_Cave" title="Armamalai Cave">Armamalai Cave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tirumalai_(Jain_complex)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tirumalai (Jain complex)">Tirumalai (Jain complex)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sithanavasal" title="Sithanavasal">Sithanavasal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thirakoil" title="Thirakoil">Thirakoil</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&oldid=1244166848">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&oldid=1244166848</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Indian_rock-cut_architecture" title="Category:Indian rock-cut architecture">Indian rock-cut architecture</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Indian_architectural_styles" title="Category:Indian architectural styles">Indian architectural styles</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Architectural_styles" title="Category:Architectural styles">Architectural styles</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Indian_architectural_history" title="Category:Indian architectural history">Indian architectural history</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Rock-cut_architecture" title="Category:Rock-cut architecture">Rock-cut architecture</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links" title="Category:Webarchive template wayback links">Webarchive template wayback links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_multiple_image_with_auto_scaled_images" title="Category:Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images">Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:All articles with unsourced statements">All articles with unsourced statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_August_2021" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from August 2021">Articles with unsourced statements from August 2021</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 5 September 2024, at 12:53<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a>. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization.</li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_rock-cut_architecture&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" loading="lazy"></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-vz8dh","wgBackendResponseTime":158,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"1.114","walltime":"1.313","ppvisitednodes":{"value":3595,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":101851,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":2194,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":16,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":9,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":185810,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":0,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 1138.105 1 -total"," 37.31% 424.635 1 Template:Reflist"," 19.34% 220.160 15 Template:Cite_web"," 11.78% 134.066 1 Template:Indian_art"," 11.31% 128.698 1 Template:Sidebar_with_collapsible_lists"," 10.16% 115.587 16 Template:Cite_book"," 8.48% 96.525 1 Template:Short_description"," 5.67% 64.522 3 Template:Sfn"," 5.06% 57.539 2 Template:Pagetype"," 4.61% 52.473 1 Template:Citation_needed"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.661","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":10753080,"limit":52428800},"limitreport-logs":"anchor_id_list = table#1 {\n [\"CITEREFBhargava2006\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFChakrabartia1976\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFFergusson1864\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFGanvir\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFJavidJāvīdJaveed2008\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFJules_Barthélemy_Saint-Hilaire1914\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFKailash_Chand_Jain1991\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFKamiya\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFKeay2000\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFKrishanTadikonda1996\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFMathpal1984\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFMichael1988\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFMithen2011\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFNangia\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFPandya2014\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFPaul_Gwynne2017\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFRajan1998\"] = 2,\n [\"CITEREFThapar2004\"] = 1,\n [\"CITEREFTiwari2000\"] = 1,\n}\ntemplate_list = table#1 {\n [\"Citation\"] = 2,\n [\"Citation needed\"] = 1,\n [\"Cite book\"] = 16,\n [\"Cite journal\"] = 1,\n [\"Cite web\"] = 15,\n [\"Convert\"] = 1,\n [\"Google books\"] = 1,\n [\"ISBN\"] = 3,\n [\"Indian Buddhist Caves\"] = 1,\n [\"Indian art\"] = 1,\n [\"Jain Caves in India\"] = 1,\n [\"Main\"] = 1,\n [\"Multiple image\"] = 2,\n [\"P.\"] = 1,\n [\"Reflist\"] = 1,\n [\"See also\"] = 1,\n [\"Sfn\"] = 3,\n [\"Short description\"] = 1,\n [\"Webarchive\"] = 7,\n [\"Wide image\"] = 1,\n}\narticle_whitelist = table#1 {\n}\n"},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-qvkwc","timestamp":"20241124161349","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false}}});});</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"Indian rock-cut architecture","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_rock-cut_architecture","sameAs":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q388774","mainEntity":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q388774","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/static\/images\/wmf-hor-googpub.png"}},"datePublished":"2006-09-21T16:37:17Z","dateModified":"2024-09-05T12:53:38Z","image":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/e\/e0\/AJANTA_CAVES_-_C.SHELARE_%282%29.jpg","headline":"The creation of structures, buildings, and sculptures by excavating solid rock"}</script> </body> </html>