Ticketed Monuments – Maharastra

Bhaja (18°44’ N; 73°29’ E) is one to the important Buddhist centres of Hinayana faith in Maharashtra. The group consists of 22 excavations and located on a hill near Bhaja village, Maval Taluka in district Pune. The importance of Bhaja is further enhanced by the presence of two more monastic complexes namely Bedsa located on the south face of the same hill in which Bhaja is situated and Karla, directly opposite north of Bhaja nearly 5 Km fro the latter. All the caves are belonging to the Hinayana phase and are datable from 3rd century BC to 2nd century AD. However the group was under occupation up to 5-6th century AD as attested from some of the painted Buddha images in the chaityagrha. They are excavated on a scrap of the hill at a weight of 120 m from above the surrounding plains and all faces west. The river Indrayani is located near by and waters the valley. The area was also in occupation during medieval period is attested by tow Maratha forts, Lohagadh and Visapur along the adjoining hill top

The donor inscriptions noticed here do not attribute to any particular ruling family or dynasty. However an inscription datable to 2nd century AD as found on the back wall of a cistern records the donation of Maharathi Kosikiputa Vihnudata, can be attributed to the caves. Another two inscriptions inscribed on the wooden beam itself below the vault are short and dedicatory in nature and datable to 2nd century BC. The survival of this original inscription on the wooden beams indicated that they have survival for the past 2200 years.

The excavations here consist of chaityagrhas, viharas and podhis.

The most prominent among the excavations is the chaityagrha. The chaityagrha is considered to be the earliest of its kind and a close copy of wooden proto type. On plan it consist of a large apsidal hall measuring 17.08 m is length and 8.13 m his width. The hall is divided into a central nave and side aisles by 27 pillars in tow straight road which meats in a semi circle at the back. The ceiling of the nave is vaulted and original wooden beams are fixed. The pillars are plain octagons and they taper inwards, as it would have been required in wooden structures as this is a copy of an existing wooden structure. The inward slope of pillars is required in a wooden structure to cope up with the outward thrust from the top. A stupa is placed at the back measuring 3.45 m in diameter for worship. The stupa has a prominent hemispherical dome on a cylindrical drum crowned by a railing pattern (harmika) and provision of hole for a top for inserting a wooden umbrella.

At present, the entrance of the hall is completely open. However, the evidence of mortise holes indicates the presence of a wooden façade below the chaitya arch and also wooden screen of the chaitya window. The façade of the chaityagrha is highly decorated and present a true replica of a 2nd century B.C. wooden architecture. On either side of the central arch are series of miniature chaitya arches over railing patterns.

Cave 18 is a monastery and consists of a rectangular hall with a front pillared verandah. The hall has two cells each on the back and right side, while on the left side is a bench. Unlike the pillars of the chaityagrha the pillars have square base and top with octagonal shape at the middle. Two doors from the verandah lead to the hall; they are flanked by lavishly bejeweled dvarapalas. The verandah of this monastery has two famous sculptural reliefs which are most important. One depicts a royal personage attended by two women, driving in a chariot driven by four horses, which tramples on a demonish figure. The person in royal attire has been identified by some as Sun god Surya. To the left of the door is depicted a person driving an elephant carrying an ankusa (elephant goad), with attendants carrying a banner and spear. The figure has been identified by some as Indra.

Apart from Cave 18, which is highly decorative and elaborate, the group of Caves at Bhaja has other monasteries of simple type, halls with verandah, the former having cells, on one, two or three sides. Some exceptions are also noticeable, like the ones with a circular cell and a stupa inside; circular cell with oblong verandah etc.

One irregular excavation is identified as a cemetery, which has fourteen rock-cut stupas, some inscribed with the name of sthaviras.

Entrance Fee:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) – Rs. 25 per head.

Others: Indian Rs. 300/- per head

(children up to 15 years free)