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11 Most Amazing Rock Cut Cave Temples of India
June 2, 2023
India boasts a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Its rich history is evident in its ancient monuments and exquisite temples, which include rock-cut temples. These majestic rock-cut temples attract huge numbers of people from India and abroad, who visit them for a spiritual as well as an aesthetic experience.
Read on to know which are the most popular rock-cut temples in India.
Masroor Cave Temples, Himachal Pradesh
Also called the Himalayan Pyramid, Masroor Rock Cut Temple dates back to the 8th century. It comprises a complex of 15 monolithic rock-cut monuments. Each of these is in the Nagara architectural style, which has North Indian associations. A lake near this temple complex is known as Masroor Lake, and one can see the reflection of the temple in this lake. The complex is symmetrically laid out on a square grid. The main structure is surrounded by smaller temples in a mandala-like pattern.
Amarnath Temple, Kashmir
The Amarnath rock-cut cave temple is at an elevation of 3,888 meters. It is a very holy Hindu shrine. Encircled by glaciers and snowcapped mountains, the temple is open only for a short period during summer. Devotees have to climb the forbidding mountainous terrains to reach the cave and get a glimpse of the ice lingam, a naturally formed stalagmite, in the cave. The cave is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and the abode of the Mahamaya Shakti Peetha.
Varaha Cave Temples, Tamil Nadu
Located in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, Varaha Cave Temples present an excellent example of Pallava architecture, dating back to the 7th century. This monolithic rock-cut temple is a fine testament to the workmanship of the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis. The main statue here is that of Vishnu, who incarnated as Varaha or boar and lifted the earth from the sea. One can also see carvings of many other mythological figures here. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kanheri Caves, Maharashtra
Kanheri Caves comprise a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a huge basalt projection in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. These caves have Buddhist sculptures, relief carvings, paintings, and inscriptions going back to the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE. Kanheri is from the Sanskrit ‘Krishnagiri’, meaning ‘black mountain’. The site is on a hillside, and one can access it via rock-cut steps. The cave complex has one hundred and nine caves. Most of the caves were Buddhist viharas, where monks lived, studied, and meditated.
Badami Cave Temples, Karnataka
Badami Cave Temple complex comprises 4 majestic rock-cut cave temples in north Karnataka. They go back to the 6th century and present a fine example of Indian rock-cut architecture, mostly Badami Chalukya architecture. The Badami rock-cut cave temples lie on the west bank of an artificial lake. The temples are carved out of soft Badami sandstone on a cliff. The structures display both Nagara and Dravidian architectural styles.
Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Located in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, Ellora Caves is one of the many rock-cut architectural wonders of India. This archeological site was built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. It comprised 34 caves. These rock-cut cave temples include Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples, testifying to the religious harmony that prevailed in ancient India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves also feature among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a Buddhist rock-cut cave temple complex that has 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments. These caves have exquisite paintings and sculptures, which are among the best examples of Indian art.
Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
Elephanta Caves comprise a network of beautifully carved caves. They are located on Elephanta Island in Maharashtra. The complex has two groups of caves. Five are Hindu caves, and two are Buddhist caves. In the Hindu caves, we can see marvelous rock-cut stone sculptures of Shiva.
Udayagiri Caves, Madhya Pradesh
These caves in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, include some of the most ancient Hindu rock-cut cave temples. One can see a sculpture of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu. The cave complex has 20 caves. One is a Jain cave, while 19 are Hindu caves.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Orissa
This is a blend of natural and artificial caves. These rock-cut cave temples in Orissa have great archeological, historical, and religious importance. The caves are on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagir. While Udayagiri has 18 caves, Khandagiri has 15. There are many religious inscriptions on these caves. The original name was Kattaka or Cuttack caves. The belief is that most of these caves were residential blocks for Jain monks during King Kharavela’s reign. Udayagiri means “Sunrise Hill”.
The Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram
Pancha Rathas or Five Rathas or Pandava Rathas is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is a fine example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Each of the 5 monuments in the complex resembles a chariot (ratha) and is carved over a single, long stone. The structures are referred to as temples mistakenly, but they were never consecrated. Due to the death of Narasimhavarman I, they were left incomplete. The structures are named after the 5 Pandavas and their common wife, Draupadi.
