BUDDHIST CAVES, PILLARS AND LDOLS

These rock-cut caves,  excavated out of the laterite hill, have suffered heavily from natural weathering. The peculiarity is the presence of stupa shaped sanctuaries of novel design. They have besides niches and chaitya arches, square platform with mouldings, both at the base and the top with elongated dome, cylindrical drum and basal niches containing stupas or images of Buddha. Independent stupas also appear with square or octagonal base. The absence of Bodhisattva figures suggests influence of Hinayana here. Some of the caves have either an open or a pillared verandah, providing entrance to a cell or two. The complex has a singular chaitya-griha which again has a stupa shaped sanctuary inside with a colossal figure of seated Buddha in dhyana-mudra on a moulded pedestal. There is another Buddha in dhyana-mudra inside an arched niche and a standing figure in the lower apartment near the assembly hall. In all there are nearly fifty rock-cut caves on the north, south and east of the hill, south-west of the village Kolvi. Most of the caves on the north and east have collapsed. However, these remains are of importance for their design and arrangement.