Khapra Kodiya Buddhist Cave Temple, Gujarat

Address

Khapra Kodiya Buddhist Cave Temple, Mullawada, Junagadh, Gujarat 362001

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Buddhist Caves of Khapra Kodiya are part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups are located in Junagadh district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The so-called “Buddhist Caves” are not actually caves, but three separate sites of rooms carved out of stone to be used as monks’ quarters. Buddhist Cave Group, they are the oldest of the caves in the group..

Puranic Significance

The caves, on the basis of scribbles and short cursive letters on the wall, are dated to 3rd-4th century BCE during the Emperor Ashoka’s rule and are the plainest of all the caves in the groups. This cave is dedicated to Buddha These caves are also known as Khangar Mahal. They were carved into living rock during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and are considered the earliest monastic settlement in the area. These caves are along the edge of the ancient Sudarshan Lake and little outside Uparkot fort, Northerly. They are carved out in an east-west longitudinal ridge. Caves are small in area. But, it has unique architecture of the water tanks design on western side and ‘L’ shaped residence. Caves were used by bhikkus during vassa period. After many years of use, they were abandoned because cracks within that let water seep into living quarters, rendering them unusable. Many accounts say that after this, the monks left for Maharashtra, where they went on to carve many similar and more elaborate structures. Khapara Kodia and Buddhist cave was damaged by later quarrying, and now only the highest story remains.