Caves of Gujarat are the tourist attraction of Gujarat. The caves of Gujarat are located in various districts in Gujarat. Caves of Gujarat are the mirrors of Jain and Buddhist religion. Some of the caves of Gujarat are Khapra Kodia Caves, Baba Pyara Caves, Taranga Hills, Khambalida Caves, Pandava Gufa and Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups.
The caves of Gujarat form an important rock-cut group of the caves of Junagadh. The caves are scooped in three tiers. These caves are situated on the descent from the Jami Masjid. The central section of Buddhist and Jain Caves of Gujarat of the lowest storey has a main hall that is open to the sky. The base, shaft and capital of the carved pillars carry unique designs.
Khapra Kodia Caves
Khapra Kodia Caves are located in Junagadh district of Gujarat. This is a major tourist attraction for people within and outside the state. Junagadh District is situated at the foot of Girnar Hills. It is approximately 350 kilometres to the west of Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. Khapra Kodia caves are located to the north of Uperkot, which is a striking fort placed on a plateau. The oldest and the most simply designed of all cave groups in Gujarat, Khapara Kodia Cave lies close to Sudarshan Lake. Khapara Kodia cave consists of chambers that are divided into east-west longitudinal ridge. This cave is particularly famous for its L-shaped wing and rectangular western wing where the monks used to take shelter during monsoons. Khapra Kodia Cave is said to be the oldest monastic settlement of Jains in this area. It is believed that these caves were carved out of living rock at the time of Emperor Ashoka. After they were used for many years, they were abandoned as water seeped into the living quarters due to cracks on the ceiling.
Baba Pyara Caves
Baba Pyara caves was constructed in 1st to 2nd century AD. The influence of art forms of Satavahana period embellished the Baba Pyara caves. The visible on door jambs, structured pillars, courts and sanctums attract the students of architecture and tourists. The Buddhist caves of Baba Pyara Caves are dominated by the walled fortress of Uparkot, which is built on rocky hills and has the entire city sprawling inside it. Baba Pyara Cave stands on the side of a moat which runs around the citadel. This moat was used to protect the fort from enemies.
Uparkot Caves
Uparkot Caves are complemented by a host of Buddhist caves which have been hewn into the soft rocks present behind the fort, located near Baba Pyara Caves. These caves and the fort have seen over 16 sieges and were an important center of trade, commerce, religion and culture in the Mauryan period. Uparkot Cave is the eyewitness of many external invasions and civil strife of West India.
Panch Pandava Gufa
Panch Pandava Gufa better known as Five Pandava Caves are found near Saputara Hill, which is the tourist attraction site in Gujarat. Another name of these caves is Aravalem Caves. It came to be commonly known as Pandava Gufa as it is described in Indian Epic, Mahabharata, that the Pandava kings spent a considerable time in these caves during the period when they were in hiding and prayed with great devotion to Lord Shiva.
Taranga Hills
Taranga Hills is the hilly cave found in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. It is predominantly a Buddhist cave. It is believed that Taranga Hills is the abode of several Buddhist monks who lived about thousands of years ago. The sculptures, artwork and the designs on the caves too are strong evidences of the Buddhist nature of these caves. The Bodhi vriskha, Kapavriksha and other Buddhist motifs are inscribed on these caves, which are now the tourist attraction. These caves are also homes to some Buddhist temples like Taranmata Temple and Dharanmata Temple. These temples are dedicated to the Goddess Tara.
Siyot Caves
Siyot Caves are found in the Kutch district of Gujarat. The caves are very old as they are believed to have been belonged to the first century AD. It is also one of the 80 monastic sites in the country. The sanctum sanctorum of Siyot Caves is east facing and there is also an ambulatory inside the cave.
Khambalida Caves
Khambalida Caves is situated in Rajkot District of Gujarat. The Khambalida caves are the culmination of three caves. The cave in the middle is a Chaitya and has a Stupa that is not in use anymore. This chaitya has two majestic sculptures of Bodhisattvas. These two Bodhisattvas are Padmapani and Vajrapani on the right and left respectively. The limestone rock is the basic ingredient with which these caves are made of. These caves belong to somewhere between the 4th and 5th century AD.
