KARLA CAVE -LONAVALA - MAHARASTRA(INDIA)
Karla,Ancient name as "valuraka",is one of the most famous centers of early rock-cut Architecture excavated about 100 meters in a high spur of the chain of hills on North flank of indrayani valley and just 8 km away from anogher buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja towards south. The group of karla includes total 16 excavation depicting artistic embellishment of Hinayan (Theravada) and Mahayan sects of Budhhism prevailed from 2nd century BC to 6th-7th century AD.Of them only is chaityagriha and rest 15 are Viharas.The chaityagriha at Karla is the biggest of its type in the whole of india excavated during the satavahana period. It consists of an apsidal hall with front verandah. The apsidal hall is devided into a nave and two aisles by two rows of pillars,which meet at the rear behind the stupa in a semicircle thus forming the apse.
STUPA
The piller are exucated with great ingenuity and vigour,which reflect sculptural art of the period.Roof of the aisles is flat,while the piller of the nave support a simple architrave over which rises a barrel vpulted roof.which ends in a semi-domical over the stupa in the rear.This roof is fitted with actual wooden curved ribs and longitudinal rafters.The caves were caused from the donation and support of a group of assorted individuals.This includes a prince of Marathi Family,merchants and merchant guide,monks & nuns and lay devotees inclugding men and women.The various inscription found here clearly speak of 27 individiuals from various place like Vejyamati (Banarasi,North Kannra District, nearly 600km.South of karla); Sopara (Nalasopara, nearly 100km.Northwest of karla)and unidentified towns of Umehanakata and Dhenukakata.Most of the donor from Dhenukakata were Yuvanas(Greek).
This caves are declared by the Archaelogical Survey of India as a National Monument vide notification no.2704-A,Dated 26.05.1909.
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