Khambhalida Caves

Khambhalida Buddhist Caves

Pilgrimage to
Buddha's Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Bodh Gaya Kushinagar Lumbini Sarnath
Four Additional Sites
Rajgir Sankassa Shravasti Vaishali
Other Sites
Amaravathi Chandavaram Devadaha Gaya Kapilavastu Kesaria Kosambi Nalanda Pataliputra Pava Varanasi
Later Sites
Ajanta Caves Barabar Caves Bharhut Ellora Caves Lalitgiri Mathura Pandavleni Caves Piprahwa Ratnagiri Sanchi Udayagiri Vikramashila

Khambhalida Caves are located in Rajkot district of the Indian state of Gujarat near Gondal. The group has three caves containing chaitya and stupa. The chaitya gate includes figures of Bodhisattva Padmapani and Vajrapani on right and left respectively. These caves come under the jurisdiction of the Archaeology Department.

Khambhalida Caves are said to be the oldest such caves in Rajkot and it’s an architectural wonder of the country.^[1] The caves are set amidst a beautiful environs. They are situated at the foot of small hillocks on the banks of a spring. The caves have a majestic structure carved out of limestone. There are three caves here, where the central one is named Chaitya Grih. It has a stupa and two sculptures with intricate designs. The cave on the right is named Bodhisatvas-Padmapani and the one on the left is named Vajjrapani. The Vajjrapani sculpture is considered one of the most ancient ones in India, second such idol came up in Ellora Caves. Another contemporary Padmapani idol appears in Patan, Nepal. There are 15 small caves situated near the Khambhalida Caves. The cave on the left hand side is huge and is open in the front. It goes deep inside. During the daytime tourists see a lot of light and air. It is believed that Buddhist monks must have meditated in the ancient times inside these caves, leaving behind spiritual vibrations that can be felt even today. It is also said that many Buddha Saints from Junagadh came to these caves for meditation thanks to an underground route between them. There is an inscription on a stone here that states Ashoka existed.

The caves are believed to have come into existence in the 4th or 5th century AD. ^[2] It is said that they were carved in the limestone rocks by Saint of Dinyan branch of Buddha tradition. Shri P. P. Pandya, a prominent archeologist, discovered the Buddhist Cave in 1958.

A modern large Buddhist temple complex is coming up near by.

It is said that for centuries Gir Forest extended till Khambhalida Village.

Further reading

• TNN (Feb 9, 2011). "Buddha caves to draw tourists". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2013. 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khambhalida Caves.

Indian Buddhist caves
Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramatheertham Caves Sankaram Undavalli caves
Bihar	Barabar Caves Lomas Rishi Cave Saptaparni Cave
Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Bava Pyara caves Uparkot Caves Kadia Dungar caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot caves Talaja Caves
Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava caves Mangalore
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Dharmrajeshwar Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Gandharpale Caves Ghorawadi Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Lenyadri Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Nadsur Caves Nenavali Caves Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Pitalkhora Shelarwadi Caves Shirwal Caves Shivneri Caves Thanale Caves Tulja Caves Wai Caves
Odisha	Udayagiri, Odisha
Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves
Tamil Nadu	Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram

Coordinates: 21°46′31″N 70°42′30″E / 21.7753°N 70.7083°E / 21.7753; 70.7083