Undavalli caves

[[File:Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple.jpg|thumb|Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple]] The '''Undavalli Caves''' ({{lang-te|ఉండవల్లి గుహలు}}), an example of [[Indian rock-cut architecture]] and a finest testimonial of ancient '''vishwakarma sthapathis''', are located in the village of Undavalli in [[Tadepalli]] Mandal in [[Guntur]] [[Guntur District|District]], near the southern bank of Krishna river, in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The caves are located 6 km south west from [[Vijayawada]], 22 km north east of [[Guntur City]] and about 280 km from [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh]]. ==Description== [[Image:AnantaPillarsAt3Floor.JPG||thumb|Pillars on third floor]] These caves have been carved out of solid sandsone on a hillside in the 4th to 5th centuries A.D. There are several caves. The best known and largest one has four stories with a huge statue of [[Lord Vishnu]] in a reclining posture sculpted from a single block of [[granite]] inside the second floor. Other shrines inside the cave are dedicated to [[Trimurti]]: to [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]]. Main cave belongs to the earliest examples of [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] architecture, primarily primitive rock-cut monastery cells carved into the sandstone hills. Initially caves were shaped as a Buddhist monastery and the first floor still retains style of Buddhist [[vihara]], including some Buddhist sculptures. The walls of the caves display sculptures carved by skilled craftsmen. Undavalli caves are associated with the [[Vishnukundina]] kings of 420 to 620 A.D. They are dedicated to Anantapadmanabha Swamy and Narisimha Swamy. Caves are surrounded by the green countryside. From the high hill above the cave overlooking the [[Krishna river]] many fine specimens of rock cut [[Hindu]] architecture can be seen. ==See also== [[Image:AnantaEntranceTo3Floor.JPG|thumb|150px|Entrance to 3rd floor of Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple]] * [[Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple]] in [[Bangalore]] - also a cave temple * [[Varaha Cave Temple]] * [[Badami Cave Temples]] * [[Pandavleni Caves]] * [[Karla Caves]] * [[Indian rock-cut architecture]] * [[List of India cave temples]] ==External links== * [http://www.showcaves.com/english/in/misc/Undavalli.html Undavalli Caves] * [http://www.andhratourism.com/Caves_Andhra.htm Caves in Andhra Padesh] * [http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/India/AndhraPradesh/Undavalli.htm Undavalli Caves - ancient cave temples] by Wondermondo {{coord missing|Andhra Pradesh}} {{Hindu Temples in Andhra Pradesh}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Undavalli Caves}}