The majority of Indian rock-cut building is religious. In India, there are about 1500 recognized rock-cut structures. Many of these monuments house works of international significance, and the majority are embellished with magnificent stone carvings. These ancient and medieval constructions are notable examples of structural engineering and craftsmanship. The work required frequently astounds visitors, yet from one perspective, a rock-cut edifice is a decorative rock quarry; most of the stone extracted is typically put to economic use elsewhere.
Rock-cut architecture holds a significant role in Indian architectural history. In many aspects, the rock-cut architecture varies from typical structures. Because structures were created by cutting solid rocks, rock-cut art is more akin to sculpting than architecture. Let’s have a look at some examples of rock-cut architecture from ancient India. Chaityas, Viharas, temples, and other notable rock-cut constructions of old India can be found here.
Caves have traditionally been revered as sacred sites in India. Caverns that had been extended or entirely manufactured were seen to be as blessed as natural caverns. The sanctuary in all Indian religious constructions, including free-standing ones, was created to have a cave-like effect since it is generally small and dark, with no natural light. The oldest rock-cut building can be seen at Bihar’s Barabar Caves, built during the third century B.C. Other early cave temples, notably Buddhist shrines and monasteries from between 100 BC and 170 AD can be found in the western Deccan.
Initially, they were connected with timber structures that decayed with time.
Cave Temples
When Buddhist missionaries arrived, they naturally gravitated to caves for usage as cave temples and abodes, which corresponded to their religious notions of asceticism and monastic life. Ajanta is the oldest of the Kanheri Caves, having been excavated in the first and second centuries B.C.E. From 200 B.C.E. to 650 C.E., Buddhist monks occupied them continually.
Rock-cut Temple Architecture
The Pallava Dynasty pioneered rock cutting to create monolithic structures resembling temples. South Indian temple architecture began with the Pallava emperor Mahendravarman.
The Pallava dynasty’s temples mirrored the artistic tastes of the individual kings and can be divided into four stages:
- The initial stage of the Pallava temple building was the Mahindra group. Mahendravarman’s temples were rock-cut structures.
- The Narasimha group represents the second stage of temple building development in South India. Intricate carvings adorned the rock-cut temples.
- The Rajasimha and Nandivarman groups are in the third and fourth stages of temple development. Actual structural temples were developed to replace rock-cut temples.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Himachal Pradesh’s Masroor Cave Temples
Masroor Rock Cut Temple, often known as the Himalayan Pyramid, is a collection of 15 monolithic rock-cut memorials. Each of them is engraved in a traditional Indo-Aryan style unique to northern India. Masroor Lake, located near this temple complex, contains a mirror of the temple.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kashmir’s Amarnath Temple
One must mention the Amarnath Temple in Kashmir when considering rock cut or cave temples in India. The cave is located in Kashmir at an elevation of 3,888 meters. It is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and is regarded as one of Hinduism’s most sacred temples. Many pilgrims trek to the Amarnath cave across complex mountainous terrain to see the cave’s naturally formed ice stalagmite. Hindus consider this ice structure to be the holy Shivlingam.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Tamil Nadu’s Varaha Cave Temples
Varaha Cave Temples, located in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, is a stunning example of Pallava architecture dating back to the 7th century. The temple is one of the most beautiful examples of the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis. The most prominent statue in the cave shrine is of Lord Vishnu, who incarnated as a Varaha or boar raising the earth from the sea. This temple also contains many other mythological figures.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Maharashtra’s Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves is also a collection of caves and rock-cut monuments carved into a massive Sanjay Gandhi National Park basalt projection. These caverns contain Buddhist sculptures, relief carvings, paintings, and inscriptions from the first century B.C.E. to the tenth century C.E. Kanheri is derived from the Sanskrit phrase Krishnagiri, which means “Black Mountain.”
Source: Flickr
Karnataka’s Badami Cave Temples
The Badami Cave Temples are a group of four beautiful temples in northern Karnataka. This temple building dates from the sixth century and is unquestionably the pinnacle of Indian rock-cut architecture, specifically Badami Chalukya architecture. The Badami cave temples represent numerous previously acknowledged Hindu temples. It is located on the west bank of a manufactured lake.
Source: Flickr
Maharashtra’s Ellora Caves
In the Maharashtra region of Aurangabad, Ellora Caves is one of India’s rock-cut architectural marvels. The Rashtrakuta dynasty built this archaeological monument, which consists of 34 caverns. The most distinctive feature of these cave temples is that they represent an excellent blend of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist rock-cut temples.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Maharashtra’s Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a Buddhist temple complex with 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments. These caverns include unique paintings and sculptures considered the best specimens of Indian art. Every year, a large number of tourists visit this beautiful temple complex.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra
Elephanta Caves are a network of magnificently sculpted caves found on Maharashtra’s Elephanta Island. These caves are divided into five Hindu caves and two Buddhist caves. Incredible rock-cut stone sculptures of Lord Shiva can be seen in Hindu caves.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Madhya Pradesh’s Udayagiri Caves
Udayagiri Caves in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, have some of the most ancient Hindu Cave Temples. The sculpture of Lord Vishnu’s avatar of Varaha is notable at the site. The cave complex consists of 20 caves, one of which is dedicated to Jainism and the other 19 to Hinduism.
Source: World History Encyclopedia
Orissa’s Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves
Udayagiri and Khandagiri caverns in Orissa are a mix of natural and constructed caverns noted for their archaeological, historical, and religious significance. The caverns are on two nearby hills known as Udayagiri and Khandagir. Udayagiri has 18 caverns, while Khandagiri has 15. These caves have various religious inscriptions.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Constructing a structure by carving it out of natural rock is called rock-cut architecture. Rock-cut architecture in India is more diverse and plentiful than any other style of rock construction observed worldwide. It was built during the rule of the Satavahana monarchs and their descendants. In India, there are about 1500 recognized rock-cut structures. Many of these monuments house works of international significance, and the majority are embellished with magnificent stone carvings.
