🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Udayagiri Caves
Gupta Classical (Chandragupta II to Kumaragupta) 320–550 CE · Gupta
Gupta’s open-air bible — 20 sandstone caves with Varaha (402 CE) and Durga, Chandragupta II's inscriptions on Udayagiri Hill.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Ellora Caves
Late classical: Kalachuri, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta periods 600–1000 CE · Buddhist, Hindu (Shaiva), Jain under Rashtrakuta patronage
Largest rock-cut monastery-temple complex in world with 34 caves carved 600–1000 CE into basalt Charanandri Hills: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, 5 Jain, including monolithic Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali
Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE) · Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical)
Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali in Maharashtra, India is a Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Karla Caves
Hinayana Buddhist, Satavahana period 2nd c. BCE – 2nd c. CE · Buddhist (Theravada) merchants and Satavahana dynasty
India's largest Buddhist chaitya hall (45 m) with original timber ribs, 1st c. BCE–CE.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster
Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE) · Jain (Kharavela)
Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster in Odisha, India is a Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Jain (Kharavela).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Badami — Cave 3 North Veranda Murals
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Badami — Cave 3 North Veranda Murals in Karnataka, Bagalkot, Badami, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradit…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Ajanta — Cave 17 Veranda Niche Painting
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Ajanta — Cave 17 Veranda Niche Painting in Maharashtra, Aurangabad, Ajanta, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Ellora Cave 10 — Vishwakarma Chaitya
Rashtrakuta (650–700 CE) · Buddhist (Mahayana final Buddhist at Ellora)
Ellora Cave 10 — Vishwakarma Chaitya in Maharashtra, India is a Rashtrakuta (650–700 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist (Mahayana final Buddhist at Ellora).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Cave Monastery Cell South
Early Medieval (500–1000 CE) · Medieval
Cave Monastery Cell South in Tamil Nadu, India is a Early Medieval (500–1000 CE) rock_cut attributed to Medieval culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Bhaja Caves — Karla Adjacent Hinayana Monastery
Satavahana (200 BCE–200 CE) · Buddhist Hinayana
Bhaja Caves — Karla Adjacent Hinayana Monastery in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (200 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Lenyadri (Ganesh Lena) — Junnar Caves 5–8
Satavahana (100 BCE–300 CE) · Buddhist; now Hindu Ganesh shrine
Lenyadri (Ganesh Lena) — Junnar Caves 5–8 in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist; now Hindu Ganesh shrine.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Udayagiri Caves 5–6 — Vidisha Vishnu Complex
Gupta (380–415 CE Chandragupta II) · Gupta Hindu (Vishnu)
Udayagiri Caves 5–6 — Vidisha Vishnu Complex in Madhya Pradesh, India is a Gupta (380–415 CE Chandragupta II) rock_cut attributed to Gupta Hindu (Vishnu).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Kondane Caves — Karjat Monastery
Satavahana (100 BCE) · Buddhist Hinayana
Kondane Caves — Karjat Monastery in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Manmodi Hill Caves — Junnar
Satavahana (100 BCE–200 CE) · Buddhist
Manmodi Hill Caves — Junnar in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist. 40 Buddhist caves on Manmodi hill opposite Shivneri with chaityas and viharas.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Ajanta Caves
Satavahana early phase 200 BCE–100 CE; Vakataka renaissance 460–480 CE · Buddhist (Hinayana → Mahayana)
Thirty horseshoe-gorge rock-cut caves overlooking Waghora River with exquisite murals and sculptures: early 2nd century BCE–1st century CE Hinayana phase and later 460–480 CE Mahayana phase under…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Junnar
Maurya → Satavahana 230 BCE–220 CE → Vakataka 250–400 CE · Satavahana Early Buddhist (Hinayana) → Brahmanical
200+ Satavahana rock-cut caves on Nanaghat pass (300 BCE–400 CE) — Naganika Brahmi inscription of Vedic rites.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Ellora — Kailasa Shrine Ancillary Gaja Panel
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Ellora — Kailasa Shrine Ancillary Gaja Panel in Maharashtra, Aurangabad, Ellora, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Roc…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group
Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c. · Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana
Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c. rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Aqueduct Arch Section South — Tamil Nadu (Madurai)
Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) · Bronze Age
Aqueduct Arch Section South in Tamil Nadu, India is a Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Bronze Age culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Aurangabad Caves 6–7 — Nagthar Hill North Cluster
Vakataka–Kalachuri (450–600 CE) · Buddhist Mahayana Tantric
Aurangabad Caves 6–7 — Nagthar Hill North Cluster in Maharashtra, India is a Vakataka–Kalachuri (450–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Mahayana Tantric.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Pallava Dynasty 580–728 CE (Mamalla and Rajasimha phases) · Tamil / Pallava Hindu (Shaiva/Vaishnava)
Pallava (7th–8th c CE) coastal temple town with 40 rock-cut shrines: Shore Temple granite seaside, Five Rathas monolithic chariot-temples cut from single boulders, Arjuna's Penance 27 m bas-relief,…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Kuda Caves — Buddhist Coastal Monastery
Satavahana to Traikutaka (200 BCE–500 CE) · Buddhist
Kuda Caves — Buddhist Coastal Monastery in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana to Traikutaka (200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave
Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE) · Shaivite Hindu
Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave in Maharashtra, India is a Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara
Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE) · Buddhist Mahayana
Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara in Madhya Pradesh, India is a Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Mahayana. 9 Buddhist rock-cut viharas with 4th c.