Dhamnar Caves

The Dhamnar Caves are caves located in the village of Dhamnar, located in Mandsaur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. This rock cut site consists of 51 caves, stupas, Chaityas, passages, and compact dwellings, carved in the 7th century CE. The site includes large statues of Gautama Buddha in sitting and Nirvana mudra.[1]

Dhamnar Caves

Dhamnar Caves
Overview of the Dhamnar Caves at Chandwasa in Mandsaur district.
Shown within India
Coordinates	24°11′35″N 75°29′53″E
Type	Buddhist caves

Fourteen caves on the northern side are considered historically significant, among which Bari Kacheri (big courthouse) and Bhima Bazar are the most so. The Bari Kacheri cave measures 20 feet square and includes stupas and chaityas. The porch includes stone railing with the wooden architecture. Bhima Bazar cave is the largest among the group, measuring 115 feet by 80 and including vzhara and chaityagruha. It consists of stupas. The roof is in poor condition with the support of wooden architecture.[2]

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  Dhamnar Caves plan
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  The caves.
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  Rock cut Dhamnar caves
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  Buddhist sculpture caves
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  Dhamnar caves
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  Badi Kachahari (Cave-6)
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  Dhamnar Caves facade
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  Dhamnar Caves stupas

See also

• Dharmrajeshwar

Further reading

• Jain, Kailash Chand (1972). Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass Pub. pp. 426–427. ISBN 812080824X.
• Verma, Archana (2007). Cultural and Visual Flux at Early Historical Bagh in Central India. Archaeopress British Archaeological Reports. p. 11. ISBN 1407301519.

Citations

1. Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle. "Monument >> Mandsaur >> Dhamnar Buddhist caves No. 1 to 51". Govt of India, Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
2. "DHAMPUR TAHSIL". Imperial Gazetteer of India. 11: 283. Retrieved 1 December 2013.