Dhamnar Caves
Dhamnar Caves
Overview of the Dhamnar Caves at Chandwasa in Mandsaur district.
Overview of the Dhamnar Caves at Chandwasa in Mandsaur district.
Dhamnar Caves is located in India
Dhamnar Caves
Shown within India
Coordinates24°11′35″N 75°29′53″E / 24.19306°N 75.49806°E / 24.19306; 75.49806
TypeBuddhist caves

The Dhamnar Caves are caves located in the village of Dhamnar, located in Mandsaur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. This rock cut site consists of 51 caves, stupas, Chaityas, passages, and compact dwellings, carved in the 7th century CE. The site includes large statues of Gautama Buddha in sitting and Nirvana mudra.[1]

Fourteen caves on the northern side are considered historically significant, among which Bari Kacheri (big courthouse) and Bhima Bazar are the most so. The Bari Kacheri cave measures 20 feet square and includes stupas and chaityas. The porch includes stone railing with the wooden architecture. Bhima Bazar cave is the largest among the group, measuring 115 feet by 80 and including vzhara and chaityagruha. It consists of stupas. The roof is in poor condition with the support of wooden architecture.[2]

Architecture

The Dhamnar caves include 51 rock cut caves containing Buddhist and Hindu structures like stupas, chaityas, porch and small chambers both of Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism constructed around 5th-6th centuries AD.

This structure includes colossal seating figure of Buddha and it also includes Brahminical rock cut caves (7th-8th century AD) and a single monolithic temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu (8th-9th century AD).

The structure was crumbling before its restoration by Archeological Survey of India mainly because of being constructed by porous laterite rocks which got weathered badly over the centuries, destabilizing and weakening the structure.[3]

See also

Further reading

  • Jain, Kailash Chand (1972). Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass Pub. pp. 426–427. ISBN 812080824X.
  • Verma, Archana (2007). Cultural and Visual Flux at Early Historical Bagh in Central India. Archaeopress British Archaeological Reports. p. 11. ISBN 978-1407301518.

Citations

  1. ↑ Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle. "Monument >> Mandsaur >> Dhamnar Buddhist caves No. 1 to 51". Govt of India, Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "DHAMPUR TAHSIL". Imperial Gazetteer of India. 11: 283. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "MP: Dhamnar caves conservation plan can be replicated, says ASI". Hindustan Times. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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