The Khapra Kodiya Caves in Junagadh, Gujarat, India are a legacy of Buddhism in the region. The Khapra Kodiya Caves that are part of a group of Buddhist caves in Junagadh is another mute witness to the spread of Buddhism in India. The genesis of Buddhism was in Lumbini as Buddha was born there. However, Buddhism sprouted in and around the kingdom of Magadha, present-day Bihar, and later spread across India, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia.

Here we talk about the Khapra Kodiya Caves, Junagadh, Uparkot caves, and the Baba Pyare caves, which together form the Buddhist caves group of Junagadh.

Khapra Kodiya Caves | Buddhist Caves Junagadh, Gujarat, India

Junagadh in Gujarat has a fascinating history that dates back to the Gupta Period and even beyond. In more recent times it was ruled by the Babi dynasty before Indian independence. Descendants of one branch of the Bani dynasty are there in Balasinor, Gujarat

On our trip to Gujarat, we reached the historic city of Junagadh to explore its treasures. We had already been awed by the presence of Asiatic Lions at the Gir National Park, the serenity of Somnath, and the mystique of Bhalka Tirth where the Krishna Avatar came to an end, before reaching Junagadh.

There are many attractions and places to see in Junagadh and one of the most fascinating of these is the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups which consists of the Buddhist Caves of Khapra Kodiya, Buddhist Caves of Uparkot, and the Baba Pyare Caves.

Buddhist Caves of Khapra Kodiya in Junagadh, Gujarat, India | Khapra Kodiya Ni Gufa

The Khapra Kodyiya caves are reached through narrow lanes on the outskirts of Junagadh. These are not caves in the real sense but are actually chambers that have been chiseled in rock. The Khapra Kodiya caves are considered to be one of the important of the Buddhist cave groups of Junagadh. The chambers hewn into the rock are quite large and are believed to have been the living quarters of Buddhist monks.

An iron gate encloses the Khapra Khodiya caves which are under the Archaeology Survey of India. Inside can be seen the shape of rocks blackened and eroded by time, that appear stacked together in a heap.

But as you go nearer you can see columns supporting roofs, hewn into the face of the rock. Steps lead up to the chambers, which are plain and filled with a musty smell. The chambers are absolutely plain and there is no ornamentation of any sort, apart from the plain pillars that support the roof.

The chambers or rooms, as can be seen, have been hewn into the rock face in an east-west longitudinal ridge. We observed that the central portion was unusually narrow. The main sections of the Khapra Kodiya caves are the western wing which is oblong shaped and dotted with a grid-like pattern of water tanks, which must have been the source of water supply to the place.

The other section is L-shaped and is believed to have been the residential section where the Buddhist monks stayed. Though the Khapra Kodiya caves are bereft of any decorative element, vague remnants of scribblings and cursive letters on the walls have helped in dating the caves.

Khapra Kodiya Caves, Junagadh – History

Not much is known about the history of the Khapra Kodiya Caves apart from the fact that they were living quarters for Buddhist monks. The caves were discovered by a British archaeologist named James Burgess in the 19th century. James Burgess was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India between 1886 to 1889 and has published many books including one titled, ‘Temples of Somnath, Junagadh, and Girnar,” in 1870.

Based on available evidence the Khapra Khodiya caves are estimated to have been built sometime between the 3rd and 4th century AD.

Khapra Kodiya Caves, Junagadh – Best Time To Visit

The summers are very hot and temperatures high in Junagadh. The best time to visit the Khapra Kodiya Caves and Junagadh is during the winter months between October to February.

Buddhist Caves | Uparkot Caves | Junagadh Caves

Uparkot is the old fort of Junagadh. It has a history dating back to the time of Chandragupta Maurya when the original fort was built. Today Uparkot houses within its ramparts many gems of history including the remains of a palace, step-wells, and more. The Buddhist Caves which are considered to be the most important of the Buddhist Caves Group of Junagadh lies within the ramparts of the Uparkot fort.

The Buddhist caves are subterranean and are below the surface. From the top one can only see just a flat rock surface interspersed with strange-looking clefts. The chambers have been hewn from the rock in three tiers, thus creating three storeys that are open to the sky, however, only two storeys have a regular floor.

Winding stairs lead down to the first level. The first level has a pond surrounded on three sides by corridors or verandahs.

The most beautiful and important of storeys is the bottom-most level. It has corridors and pillars. The pillars are exquisite. Though they have been eroded by time and the forces of nature and are a shadow of their original self, they still retain a part of their original grandeur. The base, shaft, and capitals of the carved pillars have exquisite decorative elements. The artistic style of these pillars has elements of Graeco-Scythian architecture as well as the Satavahana style.

The Buddhist caves date back to the 2nd Century and were the resting place of Buddhist monks. There was an elaborate and ingenious water supply system. The pond on the first level got filled with rainwater as it was open to the sky. An intricate system of vertical drains and cisterns on the rock surface also ensured water supply to the pond. Apart from ensuring water-supply, this system also ensured that the chambers were kept cool.

Baba Pyare Caves

The Baba Pyare caves are in a slightly better condition than the Khapra Kodiya caves. They too date back to the 2nd Century. It is believed that these caves were first used by Buddhist monks and at a later period by Jain monks. The inscriptions and artwork found in the caves attest to this fact. The Baba Pyare caves have a total of 13 caves that are arranged across three floors.

FAQ Khapra Kodiya Caves And Buddhist Caves Group

• What are the Khapra Kodiya Caves, Junagadh – Timings

The entrance to the Khapra Kodiya caves is a ticketed entry and timings are from 7 AM to 6 PM.

• Khapra Kodiya Caves – What you should know

One should not expect some grand spectacle at the Khapra Kodiya caves, as it is pretty plain and has historical value.

• What else is there to see in Uparkot apart from Buddhist caves

Uparkot has many historical places apart from the Buddhist caves. These are the Ranakdevi Mahal or Jumma Masjid, Adi-Kadi Vav, and Navaghan Kuvo, among others.

How To Get To Junagadh For Visiting The Buddhist Cave Group

• Junagadh is a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat
• Junagadh is well connected by rail and road to other parts of the state and India
• The nearest airports to Junagadh are in Rajkot and Porbandar which are at a distance of about 100 kilometers
• One can fly to Ahmedabad and travel by train or bus to Junagadh

If you are planning a trip to Junagadh, you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here.  If you are thinking of a road trip to Junagadh from anywhere in India check out the rental car and bus options.

Where to Stay In Junagadh

There are different options for accommodation in Junagadh.

For your Junagadh accommodation If you are looking for the best hotels in Junagadh to book, you can do that right here. You can book your hotel in Junagadh through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline conveniently right here! You could also opt for booking an Airbnb in Junagadh.

Click to book the best hotels in Junagadh

Click to book the best Airbnb in Junagadh

Junagadh Tourism

Junagadh has many places of interest. There are many famous monuments, pilgrimage places, as well as natural wonders like the Gir National Park near Junagadh.

You can plan your Junagadh itinerary and book your  Junagadh trips, right here.  So go ahead and book online places to see in and around Junagadh and experience popular activities in Junagadh and cover attractions in Junagadh. If you are planning to do a road trip from Ahmedabad then you can opt for this trip from Ahmedabad to Rajkot and Junagarh.

Click here to know more and book Best Attractions in Junagadh

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