Talaja Caves

Inside view of Talaja Cave

Talaja Caves are located in Bhavnagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat at Talaja. The rock cuts are carved out into deserted conical rocks. The rock cut group include 30 caves among which about 15 are water tanks. The cave has unique architecture known as Ebhal Mandapa. The halls are plain. "On the facade there are chaitya windows with a broad bank below them." The chaitya and cells were carved during Buddhism influence in 2nd century BC. During the Kshatrapas' regime in 2nd-3rd century AD Jainism emblems were carved on the cells and the halls.^[1]

The cave contains figures of Bodhisattva.The caves were carved out before rock cut architecture begins in the Maharashtra.^[2] According to few Historians the date of caves can not be traced out however some believe that carving started by the end of 1st century CE.^[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Talaja caves.

Further reading

• Fergusson, James; Burgess, James. The cave temples of India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 201–202. ISBN 1108055524. 

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