Kolvi Caves, or Kholvi Caves, are located at Kolvi village of Jhalawar district in the state of Rajasthan, India. They are carved out in laterite rock hill. This Buddhist site has stupas, chaityas containing figures of Buddha. An architectural style shows dominance of Mahyana sect in this region in the 8th-9th century CE. Around 50 caves have been found here. The caves has statues of Buddha in the meditation and standing position.[1] The stupas and colossal statues of Buddha are archaeologically significant.[2] Around Kolvi village similar caves have been discovered which proves existence of prosperous Buddhist civilization in the region.[3] Though the evidence of Kolvi is very important to register presence of Buddhsim in Rajasthan, the caves are very similar to the Bagh Caves and show cultural affinity with a region that is geaographically close.[4]
They were first visited and reported by Dr. Impey in 1854.[5] Cunnigham published his report on the caves later.[6] The discovery of a rock-cut chaitya made Kolvi a striking and majestic site. These caves belong to a relatively later period. According to Cunningham, "another equally striking peculiarity about these topes is the possession of an excavated chamber for the reception of a statue. These chambers are invariably pierced to the centre of the tope, so that the enshrined statues of Buddha occupy the very same position in these modern chaityas, which the relics of Buddha filled in the ancient stupas of Asoka. They are, in fact, no longer stupas, but real temples, which differ only in their form from the common structural shrines of the Buddhists."[6] On the basis of this innovation they have been assigned a date later than the caves of Dhamnar and Bagh in Malwa ranging from 700-900 CE.[6]
Architectureedit
The caves are in a state of natural weathering resulting in complete damage on the northern and eastern sides, but their remains are important in the architecture.[1] The group has 50 caves, many of which have lost their figure faces due to decaying. Currently the caves are not occupied.[7] Few caves have open or pillared verandah.[8] Originally ruins of 64 monk cells and similar structures were reported from Kholvi but presently Archaeological survey of India has located only 45 structures. A few elaborate multi-storey structures have also been preserved. The stupas and meditation halls also sporadically sport a circumabulation path or pradakshina path. The Kholvi shrines have images of the Buddha. The largest image is a 12 feet standing Buddha in a preaching posture.
^ abJaipur Circle, ASI. "Buddhist Caves, Pillars, and Idols". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^"A new dot on the tourism map". The Financial Express. 20 November 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^. Jhalawar District, Government of Rajasthan. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^Chaturvedi, Neekee (2012). "EVOLUTION OF BUDDHISM IN RAJASTHAN". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73: 155–162. ISSN 2249-1937.
^Impey, E. "Buudhist caves in Central India". Journal of the BombayBranch of Royal Asiatic Society. V (1854): 336.
^ abc"Archaeological Survey of India: Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65, Vol. I". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
^Kumar, Arjun (22 April 2012). "Rajasthan's best kept secret: 3 Buddhist cave complexes". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^Hadoti Tourism Development Society. . Hadoti Tourism Development Society. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kolvi caves.
External linksedit
Protected monuments by archaeological survey of India in Rajasthan
February 13, 2024
kolvi, caves, kholvi, caves, located, kolvi, village, jhalawar, district, state, rajasthan, india, they, carved, laterite, rock, hill, this, buddhist, site, stupas, chaityas, containing, figures, buddha, architectural, style, shows, dominance, mahyana, sect, t. Kolvi Caves or Kholvi Caves are located at Kolvi village of Jhalawar district in the state of Rajasthan India They are carved out in laterite rock hill This Buddhist site has stupas chaityas containing figures of Buddha An architectural style shows dominance of Mahyana sect in this region in the 8th 9th century CE Around 50 caves have been found here The caves has statues of Buddha in the meditation and standing position 1 The stupas and colossal statues of Buddha are archaeologically significant 2 Around Kolvi village similar caves have been discovered which proves existence of prosperous Buddhist civilization in the region 3 Though the evidence of Kolvi is very important to register presence of Buddhsim in Rajasthan the caves are very similar to the Bagh Caves and show cultural affinity with a region that is geaographically close 4 Kolvi CavesKolvi CavesKolvi CavesShown within IndiaCoordinates24 00 43 N 75 50 53 E 24 0118137 N 75 8480568 E 24 0118137 75 8480568TypeBuddhist Caves Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Further reading 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThey were first visited and reported by Dr Impey in 1854 5 Cunnigham published his report on the caves later 6 The discovery of a rock cut chaitya made Kolvi a striking and majestic site These caves belong to a relatively later period According to Cunningham another equally striking peculiarity about these topes is the possession of an excavated chamber for the reception of a statue These chambers are invariably pierced to the centre of the tope so that the enshrined statues of Buddha occupy the very same position in these modern chaityas which the relics of Buddha filled in the ancient stupas of Asoka They are in fact no longer stupas but real temples which differ only in their form from the common structural shrines of the Buddhists 6 On the basis of this innovation they have been assigned a date later than the caves of Dhamnar and Bagh in Malwa ranging from 700 900 CE 6 Architecture editThe caves are in a state of natural weathering resulting in complete damage on the northern and eastern sides but their remains are important in the architecture 1 The group has 50 caves many of which have lost their figure faces due to decaying Currently the caves are not occupied 7 Few caves have open or pillared verandah 8 Originally ruins of 64 monk cells and similar structures were reported from Kholvi but presently Archaeological survey of India has located only 45 structures A few elaborate multi storey structures have also been preserved The stupas and meditation halls also sporadically sport a circumabulation path or pradakshina path The Kholvi shrines have images of the Buddha The largest image is a 12 feet standing Buddha in a preaching posture nbsp Kholvi Caves plan and elevation nbsp Kolvi Caves nbsp Kolvi Caves nbsp Kolvi Caves nbsp Buddha statue nbsp Rock hewn chaitya arch nbsp PillarsFurther reading editFergusson James Burgess James 6 May 2013 The cave temples of India Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 395 399 ISBN 978 1108055529 See also edit nbsp India portalReferences edit a b Jaipur Circle ASI Buddhist Caves Pillars and Idols Archaeological Survey of India Retrieved 30 November 2013 A new dot on the tourism map The Financial Express 20 November 2005 Retrieved 30 November 2013 Buddhist Caves Kolvi Jhalawar District Government of Rajasthan Archived from the original on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 30 November 2013 Chaturvedi Neekee 2012 EVOLUTION OF BUDDHISM IN RAJASTHAN Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 73 155 162 ISSN 2249 1937 Impey E Buudhist caves in Central India Journal of the BombayBranch of Royal Asiatic Society V 1854 336 a b c Archaeological Survey of India Four Reports Made During the Years 1862 63 64 65 Vol I INDIAN CULTURE Retrieved 1 April 2023 Kumar Arjun 22 April 2012 Rajasthan s best kept secret 3 Buddhist cave complexes The Economic Times Retrieved 30 November 2013 Hadoti Tourism Development Society Jhalawar Hadoti Tourism Development Society Archived from the original on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 30 November 2013 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kolvi caves External links editProtected monuments by archaeological survey of India in Rajasthan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kolvi Caves amp oldid 1201514481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
