The two-day Telugu Mahotsavam, organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Creativity and Culture Society, commenced with grandeur at the historic Undavalli Caves in Guntur district recently.
About Undavalli Caves:
The Undavalli Caves are among the finest examples of ancient rock-cut architecture in India.
They are located in Undavalli Village of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.
They are believed to be built between the 4th and 5th centuries by the Gupta dynasty.
The caves are located on a hill overlooking the Krishna River.
These caves have been carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside.
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 on the second floor.
Other shrines inside the cave are dedicated to the Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The main cave belongs to the earliest examples of Gupta architecture, primarily primitive rock-cut monastery cells carved into the sandstone hills.
Initially the caves were shaped as a Buddhist monastery, and the first floor still retains the style of a Buddhist vihara, including some Buddhist sculptures.
The facade of the third floor is adorned with numerous sculptures, including depictions of lions and elephants.
Undavalli caves are associated with the Vishnukundina kings of 420 to 620 CE. It is also believed that these caves were used by the Buddhist monks as rest houses.
Once served as the Buddhist-Jain complexes, the Undavalli Caves were later converted to Hindu Temples.
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