Bedse Caves

Coordinates: 18°44′51.75″N 73°31′57.5″E / 18.7477083°N 73.532639°E / 18.7477083; 73.532639
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Bedse Caves
Pune District, Maharashtra, India
GeologyBasalt
Difficultyeasy
PronunciationBedse or Bedsa
Buddha's Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Four Additional Sites
Other Sites

Bedse Caves (also known as Bedsa Caves) are a group of

Patan Buddhist Cave and Nasik Caves
.

There are two main caves. The best known cave is the

vihara (Cave 11). They are marked by a profusion of decorative gavaksha or chaitya arch motifs.[3]

Chaitya

Cave 7, the chaitya hall, is reached by a long narrow passage into the rock. The front

verandah has four very elaborate columns with capitals of pairs of animals and riders of "solemn grandeur".[4] Beside these the side walls are covered with low-relief gavakshas and latticework representing architectural railings, comparable to those in the same place at the slightly later chaitya in the Karla Caves. In contrast, and unlike Karla, the chaitya hall itself has little decoration, with plain octagonal columns. The decorative ribs on the roof, which in other chaityas are stone replicating wooden architecture, were actual wood here, and have been lost.[5]

An inscription on one of the gate arches reads: Gift of Pushyanka, son of Ananda Sethi from Nashik.

Bedsa caves inscriptions

Vihara

The vihara at Cave 11 has a rather unusual form, with a main chamber shaped somewhat like a chaitya, with a rectangular plan with a rounded apsidal far end, and a vaulted roof. This is now open to the outside, but presumably originally had a wooden screen. Around the chamber are nine doors to cells, each with a relief chaitya-arch surround. Friezes with railing patterns run round the room at two levels. There are four further cells outside where the screen would have been.[6]

Other

There is also a small stupa outside to the right of the main caves. Until around 1861 the caves were regularly maintained - even painted. These works were ordered by local authorities in order to please British officers who often visited caves. This has caused loss of the remnants of plaster with murals on it.

Visiting

Both caves face eastwards so it is recommended to visit the caves in the early morning, as in sunlight the beauty of carvings is enhanced.

Bedse Caves can be reached from Pune via Kamshet. Upon reaching Kamshet Chowk, left route is to be taken. That route goes straight to Bedse Village where the caves are located. They can also be reached via Paud - Tikona Peth - Pawananagar. Alternate route is from Somatne-Phata on the Pune-Mumbai NH4 Highway.

Bedse Caves are comparatively less known and less visited. People know about the nearby

Pawana Dam
.

The best time to visit Bedse Caves is the rainy season as the hills are filled with lush greenery during that time. Also many small waterfalls are created that can only be enjoyed during the rainy season. As this is one of the lesser known spots, not many tourists throng the place, so makes it easy to enjoy the views.

Gallery

  • General view, with the top of the chaitya entrance columns visible, and the outside stupa
    General view, with the top of the chaitya entrance columns visible, and the outside stupa
  • Entrance to the Chaitya Hall
    Entrance to the Chaitya Hall
  • Columns at chaitya entrance
    Columns at chaitya entrance
  • Capital of a column above the main entrance
    Capital of a column above the main entrance
  • Capitals
    Capitals
  • Side wall inside the chaitya verandah
    Side wall inside the chaitya verandah
  • Peepal leaves on gavaksha arches
    Peepal leaves on gavaksha arches
  • The stupa in the chaitya
    The stupa in the chaitya
  • Floral Carving over chaitya doorway
    Floral Carving over chaitya doorway
  • Inscription in Brahmi: Gift of Pushyanka, son of Ananda Sethi from Nashik
    Inscription in Brahmi: Gift of Pushyanka, son of Ananda Sethi from Nashik
  • Main vihara
    Main vihara
  • Inside the vihara
    Inside the vihara
  • Cell doorways off the vihara
    Cell doorways off the vihara
  • Bedsa caves
    Bedsa caves

Notes

  1. ^ Michell, 351
  2. ^ Harle, 54
  3. ^ Michell, 351-352
  4. ^ Michell, 351-352; Harle, 54, quoted
  5. ^ Michell, 351-352; Harle, 54
  6. ^ Michell, 352

References

  • Harle, J.C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art,
    ISBN 0300062176
  • Michell, George, The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu, 1989, Penguin Books,
    ISBN 0140081445

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bedse caves.

18°44′51.75″N 73°31′57.5″E / 18.7477083°N 73.532639°E / 18.7477083; 73.532639

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bedse_Caves&oldid=1178202497"