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Karle (Ekvera, Ekvira, Veluraka): N 18" 46.995', E 73" 28.206'. Perhaps the most famous early Buddhist cave site, Karle is home to the largest chaitya hall hewn in the rock-cut medium. Karle is also a "living" site, as the Ekvira Devi Mandir, a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess, is located in front of the chaitya hall. The chaitya hall is nearly 38 meters deep, and both the height and width of the cave measures approximately 14 meters. The chaitya hall is apsidal with a central navelike space surrounded by an ambulatory. The cave houses approximately one hundred rock-cut sculptures with figural or animal subjects. There are also thirty-three inscriptions carved in the court, veranda, and on pillars inside the hall. These include rare inscriptions of the Satavahanas and Western Kshaharatas, competing ancient kingdoms that battled one another over control of the Western Deccan. The bulk of remaining inscriptions record donations of pious lay Buddhists and mendicants otherwise unknown to history. Although rarely acknowledged, there are numerous examples of monastic residential architecture at the site, including a three-storey monastery adjacent to its chaitya hall. A future expansion of this webpage will provide a much more detailed examination of the Karle caves and its diverse architectural tradition. |
Exterior view of the Karle chaitya hall and Ekvira Devi Mandir. |
Interior view of Karle chaitya hall. |
Pillar capitals depicting couples atop elephants, chaitya hall interior. |