Undavalli Caves - Andhra Pradesh
Perched atop the high hills of Undavalli and overlooking the glorious Krishna River, one can catch the sight of a stupendous architectural wonder cut out of a single sandstone which is none other than the Undavalli Caves and Rock Cut Temple at Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
It is one of the greatest achievement of ancient engineering during the time of Buddhism. And it also shows how advanced was the architectural side of India even during the ancient and medieval times.
The Undavalli Caves were associated with Vishnukundina Kings who ruled the region between 420 – 620 AD. As they were followers of Buddhism, they set up the Undavalli Caves as Buddhist Temples. And it is evident from the historical records that the Undavalli Caves was once a site of Bhikkhu (Buddhist monks) monastery complex.
Once served as the Buddhist-Jain complexes, the Undavalli Caves were later converted to Hindu Temples.
The remnants of the amazing stonework at the Undavalli Caves are proof of how these Buddhist sculptures were transfigured to Hindu Temples. These Caves are mainly devoted to Lord Anantapadmanabha and Lord Narisimhaswami.
The Undavalli Caves are carved out of a massive sandstone hill while the idols here are carved in black granite stone.
What is Special:
Undavalli Caves are carved out of a huge single stone and it is one of the finest examples of Indian rock-cut architecture.
Excavated from a solid sandstone of a hillside, the Undavalli Caves are a masterpiece of Vishwakarma sthapathis.
Undavalli Caves initially started as a Buddhist Temple, but it doesn't belong to any particular religion.
Buddhists, Hindus as well as Jains have occupied the Undavalli Caves which they treated as their spiritual centres.
Undavalli Caves contains statues of Buddhists, artworks of Hindus and also sculptures of Tirthankaras.
There is a statue of Lord Vishnu in sleeping posture inside the cave which is sculpted from a single block of granite and is really admiring.
Undavalli Caves reflects both Gupta architecture and Chalukya architecture.
The walls of the Undavalli Caves are decorated with frescoes that depict stories from mythology.
There is a separate cave here which is dedicated to the Hindu Trinities: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
The four-storied Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the largest among the Undavalli Caves.
What you will experience:
The stupendous rock-cut architecture of the Undavalli Caves and Rock-Cut Temples leave you in wonder. It is truly unbelievable that these huge caves are carved out of a single stone. The four-storied cave with a huge monolithic granite statue of Lord Vishnu in a sleeping posture is astounding. The fresh flowers on the idols of Lord Ganesha and Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu, make us clear that these idols are still worshipped here. You feel like you are visiting Buddhist viharas because of the shape of the Undavalli Caves. The walls of the Caves have very skillfully carved sculptures and murals. One interesting thing you will notice here is that most of the sculptures have an elephant as its key element. These marvelous rock-cut sculptures not only serves as an architectural wonder but also bespoke India's cultural past. The beautifully maintained gardens in front add a wonderful contrast to the rock-cut monument. And you can see vast stretches of green cultivation lands all around.
Apart from exploring the architectural beauty of Undavalli Caves, one can also enjoy a pleasurable nature walk near the caves. You can spend a pleasant time here but all you need to be careful is the monkeys. A lot of monkeys can be seen wandering here and there near the caves. They are often troublemakers and can be aggressive sometimes. So please be careful with your belongings and avoid carrying food and water bottles while visiting the Undavalli caves as they can be snatched away by the monkeys. Other than this the place is simply awesome and historical. People who love to explore the ancient history and culture will definitely love this place.
Best Time To Visit:
Undavalli Caves, Rock cut Temple can be visited throughout the year. But most of the travellers prefer the winter months of October to February to visit the Undavalli Caves, Rock-Cut Temples as the temperature is pleasant and cool during this season. Summers are too uncomfortable for exploring Guntur as the temperature can rise up to a maximum of 40 degree Celsius. The heavy monsoon downpour makes the place not suitable for visiting.
Way to Reach:
By Air - Vijayawada International Airport is the nearest airport to Undavalli Caves, Rock Cut Temple which is situated at a distance of 26.5 Km.
By Rail - Vijayawada Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Undavalli Caves, Rock Cut Temple which is situated at a distance of 6.6 Km.
By Road - Vijayawada Bus Station is the nearest bus station to Undavalli Caves, Rock Cut Temple which is situated at a distance of 6.2 Km.