DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0202
i66
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
by 13 ft. 6 in., but to this must be aclded the porch or ante-
chapel that extended about 20 ft. further, making the whole
about 52 ft. On two sides, and on half the third, it is sur-
rounded by a verandah leading to cells. The third side never
was finished, but in one of the side cells, measuring 15 ft. 8 in.
by 10 ft. 10 in., is a smaller dagaba ; at the back are four cells—
one of them, 17 ft. 4 in. by 11 ft. 9 in., with an arched and
ribbed roof; and on the west side are six cells, of which the
third measures 10J ft. by 8 ft. 4 in., and has two statues on the
back wall,—the whole making a confused mass of chambers
and chaityas in which all the original parts are confounded,
and all the primitive simplicity of design and arrangement is
lost, to such an extent that, without previous knowledge, they
would hardly be recognisable.1
There are no exact data for determining the age of this
cave, but like all of the series it is late, probably between A.D.
600 and 700, and its great interest is that, on comparing it with
the chaitya and vihara at Bhaja or Bedsa (Woodcuts Nos. 58
and 63), we are enabled to realise the progress and changes that
took place in designing these monuments during the eight or
nine centuries that elapsed between them.2
KHOLVI.
Twenty-two miles south-east from Dhamnar is another
series of caves not so extensive, but interesting as being
probably the most modern group of Buddhist caves in India.
No complete account of them has yet been published,3 but
enough is known to enable us to feel sure how modern they are.
There are between forty and fifty excavations here, mostly
small, and in three groups on the south, east, and north sides
of the hill—the principal caves being on the south face. The
most marked feature about them is the presence of some seven
stupas or dagabas witli square bases, in all the larger of which
shrines have been hollowed out for images. One, called Arjun’s
House, is a highly ornamented dagaba, originally apparently
some 20 ft. in height, but the upper part being in masonry has
1 In Gen. Cunningham’s ‘ Archreo-
logical Reports,’ vol. ii. the plates 78-83,
for Dhamnar, and 84 for Kholvi, are on
too small a scale to be of much use. There
are errors also in the plan, as in repre-
senting nine cells on the west of the larger
chaitya instead of six; the facade on
plate 80 belongs, not to “ Bhim’s bazar,”
but to the “ Great Kacheri,” as on plate
79 ; the piilars of the verandah in No. 11
(p. 273) are not “ 3 ft.” in height, but
about 5 ft. 8 in.
2 A complete survey of the Dhamnar
and Kholvi excavations has not been
published, and they present peculiarities
that only a fully detailed survey would
enable us to understand.
:! ‘ Journal of Bombay Branch Royal
Asiatic Society,’ vol. v. pp. 336-349.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
by 13 ft. 6 in., but to this must be aclded the porch or ante-
chapel that extended about 20 ft. further, making the whole
about 52 ft. On two sides, and on half the third, it is sur-
rounded by a verandah leading to cells. The third side never
was finished, but in one of the side cells, measuring 15 ft. 8 in.
by 10 ft. 10 in., is a smaller dagaba ; at the back are four cells—
one of them, 17 ft. 4 in. by 11 ft. 9 in., with an arched and
ribbed roof; and on the west side are six cells, of which the
third measures 10J ft. by 8 ft. 4 in., and has two statues on the
back wall,—the whole making a confused mass of chambers
and chaityas in which all the original parts are confounded,
and all the primitive simplicity of design and arrangement is
lost, to such an extent that, without previous knowledge, they
would hardly be recognisable.1
There are no exact data for determining the age of this
cave, but like all of the series it is late, probably between A.D.
600 and 700, and its great interest is that, on comparing it with
the chaitya and vihara at Bhaja or Bedsa (Woodcuts Nos. 58
and 63), we are enabled to realise the progress and changes that
took place in designing these monuments during the eight or
nine centuries that elapsed between them.2
KHOLVI.
Twenty-two miles south-east from Dhamnar is another
series of caves not so extensive, but interesting as being
probably the most modern group of Buddhist caves in India.
No complete account of them has yet been published,3 but
enough is known to enable us to feel sure how modern they are.
There are between forty and fifty excavations here, mostly
small, and in three groups on the south, east, and north sides
of the hill—the principal caves being on the south face. The
most marked feature about them is the presence of some seven
stupas or dagabas witli square bases, in all the larger of which
shrines have been hollowed out for images. One, called Arjun’s
House, is a highly ornamented dagaba, originally apparently
some 20 ft. in height, but the upper part being in masonry has
1 In Gen. Cunningham’s ‘ Archreo-
logical Reports,’ vol. ii. the plates 78-83,
for Dhamnar, and 84 for Kholvi, are on
too small a scale to be of much use. There
are errors also in the plan, as in repre-
senting nine cells on the west of the larger
chaitya instead of six; the facade on
plate 80 belongs, not to “ Bhim’s bazar,”
but to the “ Great Kacheri,” as on plate
79 ; the piilars of the verandah in No. 11
(p. 273) are not “ 3 ft.” in height, but
about 5 ft. 8 in.
2 A complete survey of the Dhamnar
and Kholvi excavations has not been
published, and they present peculiarities
that only a fully detailed survey would
enable us to understand.
:! ‘ Journal of Bombay Branch Royal
Asiatic Society,’ vol. v. pp. 336-349.