The portion above the doorways is decorated with a series of miniature chaitya windows imitating the huge chaita window. The location of Karla is also important for its rich embellishments, it is on the ancient highway connecting seaports of Kalyan and Sopara to the cities located inland. Freestanding chaitya halls are made up of durable material such as stone. The overall effect is surprisingly similar to smaller Christian churches from the Early Medieval period, though early chaityas are many centuries earlier. The chaitya halls have two types one is Rock cut Chaitya Hall and the second one is Freestanding Chaitya halls. The central motif is a large horseshoe arch. They seem almost certainly to have supported a chakra or Buddhist wheel. The other nearest centre of great Buddhist activity is Bhaja, which is 8 km south of Karla. A chaitya, chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, (Sanskrit: Caitya; Pli: Cetiya) refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. Get reviews, hours, directions, coupons and more for Chatkharay Indian and Pakistani Grill. The Karla caves are a famous point of attraction of Lonavala tourism and host several tourists from every part of the country. Grab the deal and start packing your bags for an indelible holiday with Tour My India. The hall measures 37.87 m deep from door to back; 13.87 m wide and 14.02 high. The third thing is the karla temple known as Ekvira temple. Caityagha ():[noun] = [caitya]2 - 3. Sources on Chaitya-Hall at Karli. The inscriptions thus give the ancient name of Karla as Veluraka. [41], Cave 19 at Ajanta Caves was also modeled after the Karla Great Chaitya, built in the 5th century CE.[42]. An undivided volume of light coming through a single opening overhead at a very favorable angle, and falling directly on the dagoba or principal object in the building, leaving the rest in comparative obscurity. Karla is situated in Maval Taluka of Pune on the Pune-Mumbai highway, about 60 km northwest of Pune. Jambdvpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (middle world) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside. Also when you look at the ceiling you will get to see the wooden work which is approximately two thousand years old. Persons practically from every strata of the society contributed towards the establishment of this complex thus indicating its importance in the Buddhist world. Similar pillar should have existed on its left, for which evidence is seen in the form of a short stump. The chaityagriha is entered through a screen wall erected in front of the verandah, which in turn has three entrances, the central one opening into the nave and the other two, into the flanking aisles. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "banavasi" Flickr tag. These caves are a beautiful complex of ancient Buddhist Indian rock-cut caves at Karli. [21], Inscription on pillar (5th pillar, right row, donation by a Yavana ("Indo-Greek") named Chitasa gatana ). The roof of the aisles is flat, while the pillars of the nave support a simple architrave over which rises a barrel vaulted roof which ends in a semi-dome over the stupa in the rear. The caves are excavated nearly 100 metres on a high spur of the chain of hills on the north flank of the Indrayani valley. A notable feature of these caves is their arched entrances and vaulted interiors. Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India. A hemispherical dome rises over the drum which supports a cubical harmika and a seven stepped inverted square pyramid over it. The side walls of the verandah and inner face of the screen wall are extensively decorated with sculptures. [1], Many traders, Western Satraps of Saka origin and Satavahana rulers made grants for construction of these caves. In it all the architectural defects of the previous examples are removed: the pillars of the nave are quite perpendicular. The pillar consists of a stepped pyramidal base surmounted by a pot, octagonal shaft over it, the capital of inverted flower vase member, a neck of closed amalaka and an inverted stepped pyramid over which lies a dosseret decorated with animal sculptures with riders. Menu for Chatkharay Indian and Pakistani Grill: Reviews and photos of Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani The chaityagriha at Karla is the largest of all Buddhist prayer halls in the entire country, measuring around 45 meters in length, with a width and height of 14 meters each, supported by 15 pillars. If one aspires to see some structure like this one must visit the Karla chaitya hall. The pillars are executed with great ingenuity and vigour which reflect the sculptural art of the period. Their affiliations can be referred to as the Mahsghika sect of Buddhism which was prominent in this region of India. At the far end stands the stupa, which is the focus of devotion. It is situated at a high altitude in a difficult terrain, and hence it is amazing to know how it was actually build. General definition (in Jainism) Caityagha () refers to a type of gha located in the vyantara cities of Jambdvpa, according to Jain cosmological texts, such as the Tiloyapannatti. [21], The interior is solemn and grand. It exhibits a central motif, which is a large horseshoe arch, an Ashokan pillar with the stone faade and a torana located in between. It is believed that these caves are carved from living rocks. The Complex consists of 16 rock cut excavations of which the grandest and the most dominant structure is the Chaitya-griha. Huge windows are carved on the rock, so that a hard sunlight penetrates in a proper tone, and hit the sculpture and carvings with perfect light to add value in their already exquisite contours. By availing private cabs tourists can reach Lonavala and Karla Caves. The group of rock excavations is not that elaborate when compared to its counterparts at Ajanta and Ellora. It is completely carved out of rock; nothing has been used in addition to it. A wide and flat open area in front of the chaityagriha could have provided an ideal place for large gatherings of the followers of Buddhism. Karla Caves "Karla" Ancient name as "Valuraka" is one of the most famous centers of early rock-cut architecture excavated about 100 Mtrs. This pattern extends throughout the entire width of the faade of the hall. These caves exhibit a prayer hall that dates back to the 1st century and are about 45meters long and 14 meters high. Except from three excavations of Mahayana phase the remaining belong to the Hinayana phase. This Chaityagriha is forty five metres long and up to fourteen metre high. Although there are other caves called bhaja caves, bedse caves etc. The chaitya hall only survives in rock-cut examples, but these replicate in stone the form of examples in wood and thatch. 4th May 2020 By Karla Caves Where is a karla cave? The wide land narrows down on the south and runs almost as a ledge path, turns east and continues up to the edge of the cliff. Often, elements in wood, such as screens, porches and balconies, were added to stone structures. The only natural light, apart from a little from the entrance way, comes from a large horseshoe-shaped window above the porch, echoing the curve of the roof inside. Ekvira Aai Temple Lonavala is one of the ancient temples of India and a key point of attraction of Lonavala tourism. In the earlier examples, timber was used decoratively, with wooden ribs added to stone roofs. Along the line of first pillar of the nave and parallel to the front wall, a transverse line of four pillars is also noticed. If Bhutapala's claim relates to the chaitya itself, it is probable that he arrived on the scene at the critical period when the chaitya was in its finishing stages, and helped to complete it with numerous small donations", Royal patronage of Buddhism in ancient India, by Kanai Lal Hazra - 1984 - Page 176, Michell, 374; Harle, 48 and note 21 at 493, Ancient India, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1977, Text adapted from public domain History of Indian and Eastern architecture by Fergusson, James, 1910, Buddhist Architecture, by Huu Phuoc Le, Grafikol, 2010, Some Early Dynasties of South India, by Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya, Problems of Ancient Indian History: New Perspectives and Perceptions, Shankar Goyal - 2001, p.104, Part of inscription No.10 of Ushavadata, Cave No.10, Nasik in Epigraphia Indica, Buddhism And Buddhist Literature In Early Indian Epigraphy - Kanai Lal Hazra - 2002, Page 126, "From Early to Late Tapa Sardr: A Tentative Chronology", Archaeological Survey of India, "Karla Caves", Karla Caves - Ancient Buddhist rock-cut cave, Flonnet.com article on caves of Western India, Kevin Standage, An Indian Travel Photography Blog (Karla caves), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karla_Caves&oldid=1152190992. The Karla chaityagriha: Inside the Karla chaitya griha: The huge lion pillar at the entrance at Karla: The Karla caves. The Chaityagriha of the Karla Caves is the best piece of architecture of all monument types in India. [1] [2] The term is most common in Buddhism, where it includes a stupa at one end. I accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of Tripoto. Karla Caves: Spell Bounded - See 635 traveler reviews, 793 candid photos, and great deals for Lonavala, India, at Tripadvisor. Karla is situated in Maval Taluka of Pune on the Pune-Mumbai highway, about 60 km northwest of Pune. From different sources like carbon dating and rock inscriptions, it is affirmed these are the oldest of the cave shrines and it is believed that they developed over a considerable period of time, from the second century BC to around the 10th century A.D.! This roof is fitted with actual wooden curved ribs and longitudinal rafters. Note: caitya-gha is defined in the Indian epigraphical glossary as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The Karla caves are a famous point of attraction of lonavala tourism and hosts several tourists from every part of the country. Available for both RF and RM licensing. By Usabhadata, the son of Dinaka and the son-in-law of the king, the Khaharata, the Kshatrapa Nahapana, who gave three hundred thousand cows, who made gifts of gold and a tirtha on the river Banasa, who gave to the Devas and Bramhanas sixteen villages, who at the pure tirtha Prabhasa gave eight wives to the Brahmanas, and who also fed annually a hundred thousand Brahmanas- there has been given the village of Karajika for the support of the ascetics living in the caves at Valuraka without any distinction of sect or origin, for all who would keep the varsha. These are also referred as Karli Caves, Karle Caves or Karla Cells. The pillars behind the stupa which are seven in number are plain octagons without any decoration. The construction of the temple can be dated back to two periods i.e. [11], This site is using cookies under cookie policy . Similar pillar should have existed on its left, for which evidence is seen in the form of a short stump. Although there are other caves called bhaja caves, bedse caves etc. Let's make the world a better place together! The shaft is surmounted by an inverted bell member followed by flat surface and inverted stepped pyramidal plates. Now only one of these remains, and the remaining space is occupied by a temple dedicated to the goddess Ekveera, who is worshipped most notably by the Aagri and Koli community of Mumbai. .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}184700N 732814E / 18.78333N 73.47056E / 18.78333; 73.47056, The Great Chaitya in the Karla Caves, Maharashtra, Karla inscription of Vasishthiputra Pulumavi, left of the main entrance, World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India, Volume 1 Al Jvd, Tabassum Javeed, Algora Publishing, 2008, Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums, by George Michell, Roli Books Private Limited, 1 mai 2013, "This hall is assigned to the brief period of, "the claim of Bhutapala, the merchant (sethi) from Vejayanti, that he completed this stone mansion, the finest in all of India (jambudipamhi utamam selaghara parinithapitam), is intriguing. Here, although some were replaced under Lord Curzon in the 19th century, most are original.[19]. An important dedicatory inscription relates to Nahapana on the lintel to the right of the entrance of the Great Chaitya (Valurak is thought to be an ancient name for Karla Caves): Success!! The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, self-reliance) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal. The caves are excavated nearly 100 metres on a high spur of the chain of hills on the north flank of the Indrayani valley. These are also referred as Karli Caves, Karle Caves or Karla Cells. One has to use mobile light to see the painting. The caves were caused from the donations and support of a group of assorted individuals. 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