Ancient · Buddhist · India

Guntupalli Caves

Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh · 17.0189°, 81.1306°

Gautama Buddha (chaitya and stupas)UndeterminedRock-cut

Sacred since

200 BCE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

2nd–1st c. BCE, with later additions

Undetermined

History & significance

A Buddhist complex near Kamavarapukota with rock-cut caves on two levels, an unusual brick chaitya hall built above ground around a stone stupa, and more than thirty smaller stupas on a terrace. The chaitya's carved stone entrance imitates wooden architecture in the manner of the Lomas Rishi cave; excavation recovered three relic caskets with gold, silver and crystal beads, a bronze Padmapani, and casket inscriptions dated to the ninth and tenth centuries CE.

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