Buddhist Sites
-| Kondane Caves | -
Location: District Colaba (Maharashtra) - Lat 18º 51' N, Long 73º
23' E
The Kondane caves are the smallest but interesting caves excavated in the western
face of a high hill, with the bordering Raj-marchi fort over the peak. The caves
overlook the stream of Ulhas river. The site is about 5 kms. north-east of Thakarwadi
(between tunnel no. 14-15) which is a small railway station between Karjat and
Khandala on the Bombay Pune line. The caves have a few fragments of octagonal
pillars and portions of walls missing not only in the front but also on the
right side. The chaitya griha enthralls the visitors by its magnificent facades.
Like the chaitya griha at Bhaja, it had a wooden screen below the chaitya arch,
but here, the foremost pillars in some places are the wooden ones similar to
those at Bhaja. The wood work below the vault of the nave and the half arches
of the niches have disappeared, though two of the semi circular ribs and two
of radial struds are in the place (the ancient wood). The decoration of the
facade has an affinity with that of Bhaja but the facade of the cave is richer
both in excavation and well balanced arrangements of different parts. The delicately
modelled figures are shown in natural poses, their movements are free and full
of expression and grace. The figures carved in high relief below this frieze
have all dissapeared except a very large defaced head with a singular style
of elaborate coiffure. The stupa inside the chaitya griha, with a prominent
drum having railing at the top, is badly damaged but worth seeing inspite of
it.
Immediately to the left of the chaitya griha at a higher level, is a spacious
monastery, extraordinary of its kind. Its regular plan and also the pillar in
the hall are rather unusual in a monastery of 1st Century BC. It consists of
a pillared veranda, a hall with fifteen pillars arranged on three sides, each
side having six. All the cell have rock cut beds, two being double bedded. Most
of the cells doors are crowned by projected tie beam with ends of rafters visible.
The ceiling of the hall has a network of rock cut beams and rafters. The major
portions of floor of the veranda is missing. There are two short inscriptions
on the facade.
Beside the magnificent monastery, there are five more ordinary viharas all like
the two main caves, belonging to a period when the image of Lord Buddha was
not evolved or represented in human form.
Kondane Caves - Buddhist,
Archaeology in India
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