Bhaja, Karla and Kanheri caves
Bhaja, Karla and Kanheri caves are an elaborate example of Buddhist imprints in India. Located in Maharashtra, they represent the closeness of the area with the Buddhist ideology.
Bhaja Caves
These are group of 18 caves which were built during the Mauryan times around 2nd century BC. A precious gift of the ancient world art as these harbor fine illustrations of early Theravadin phase of Buddhism. The sculptures show various aspects of the Lord Buddha and many symbolisms which stand to define his ideologies. There can be seen detailed and intricately carved images of flowers, human figures, elephants etc. The pillars are sloping downwards. Lonavala situated a few kilometers away from Mumbai is known as the gateway to Bhaja caves.
Karla Caves
These caves were built during the Satvahana rule in India in 2nd and 3rd century BC. They present a wonderful site for tourists who are interested in the Buddhist form of architecture. It is a stately depicture of Buddhist intricacies in architecture with special emphasis on the physical form of Buddha. The caves have both chaitya halls which are the largest in the world were used for mass worship practices and viharas were mainly used as dwelling units. The doors and windows too contribute in the golden architecture, with their panels carved with sculptures of couples embracing each other.
Kanheri Caves
These were the result of architectural pursuits of Mauryan and Kushan rulers from 2nd to 9th centuries BC. They lie 1500 feet above sea level and are based very close to the city of dreams- Mumbai. Initially built as rest-houses for travelers, these got converted to Buddhist viharas. The monks who initially adapted to the natural settings in the caves, gradually started carving halls, temples and images of the Buddha and other Bodhisattvas out of huge rocks, which chanegd the Kanheri caves to an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the 3rd century CE. The architecture again carries the Buddhist and ancient delicacies topped with medieval touches. A rock-cut pattern, the caves have been carved into a hill and house many forms of Buddha. They are 109 in number with the Cave 3 being most rich with a hall with 34 pillars and two tall, standing sculptures of Buddha. They give clues to the Theravada sect of Buddhism.
