Undavalli Caves

Undavalli Caves are a monolithic example of Indian rock-cut architecture and are famous throughout the country. Undavalli Caves were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside and they serve as one of the finest testimonials to the Vishwakarma sthapathis(temple architects and builders) leaving you in wonderment and pride about India’s advanced culture during the ancient and medieval times. These caves are under the maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India.

Located to the east of the Undavalli village on the right bank of river Krishna, 5 km southwest of Vijayawada on the Vijayawada-Guntur highway. 

It is also believed that Buddhist monks used these caves as rest houses. First Vishnukundina kings were supporters of Buddhism and Undavalli Caves were started as Buddhist temples. For a while they were used by Buddhist monks and there have been preserved some Buddhist statues up to this day. Later though caves were taken over by Hindus and major part of artwork we see here today is related to Hindu religion. There are several caves and the best known largest one has four stories with a huge recreated statue of Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted from a single block of granite inside the second floor.

The earliest group of caves are dated to the early part of 6th - 7th century AD on stylistic grounds. But the label inscriptions in early archaic Telugu characters belonging to 10th century AD. Inscriptions of Machama Reddy, a Reddy Chief of Kondavidu (1343 AD) and those of the time of Sri Krishnadevaraya (AD 1520-29) speak of the continued patronage and sanctity attached ti caves for over several centuries. 

These caves belong to the early Eastern Chalukyas and have similarities with those that are built by the Pallavas which normally have 1. front mandapam with a single garbhagriha (cellla), 2. heavy pliiars with square cross section, 3. dwarapalakas with horned headgear with one of their hand shown in vismaya mudra and 4. niches decorated with makara-toranas.  

Undavalli Caves, by their sheer beauty of design and construction, speak volumes of the inconceivably advanced architectural skills of the ancient Viswakarma sthapathis (temple architects and builders) leaving you in wonderment and pride about India’s advanced culture during the ancient and medieval times. It is an Impressive Four storey rock cut temple with East facing facade of 29m long, 16m wide. There are variations in depth of each floor.

Ground floor is an unfinished low pillared hall with 8 pillars and 7 door openings on façade.

First floor accommodates triple shrine at back, each with pillared hall in front, originally dedicated to the Trinity (Siva, Vishnu and Brahma). Sculptures on the walls represents Vaishnava deities.

Second storey has a pillared rectangular shrine of Lord Vishnu on a Serpent. Sculpture is made out of single block of granite. Over Vishnu there is a canopy of multi-hooded Adi-Shesha, king of all nagas, shrine is adorned with numerous other sculptures as well. Sculptures of Shiva and Vaishnava and a few like the Vaishnava Alwars are sculptured later on.

Facade of the third floor is adorned with numerous sculptural spicemens, on stylistic were attributed to the Chalukyan period and including depictions of lions, elephants. There opens beautiful view through these ancient sculptures towards other green hills and stands of palms below.