Bedsa Caves

INDIA, Maharashtra, Pune

Located in the city of Pune, the two main caves at Bedsa are Cave 11, a vihara cave, and Cave 7, a caitya cave. They were constructed between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE. Cave 11 measures 5.5 m wide, 9.8 m deep, and has a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It is the only known vihara cave in India with an apsidal layout. Inside are nine cells, each with a carved stone bed and an imitation caitya window above the door. Outside the cave, another two cells are found on either side of the entrance.
Cave 7, the only caitya cave at the site, consists of a passageway, a portico, and main hall. The passageway is 1.5 m wide and 11 m long, and it is rare to find such a passageway in Indian caves. The portico is 9.1 m wide and 3.6 m deep. Supporting the ceiling are two octagonal columns, the capitals of which are embellished with mithuna couples. There is a large caitya window above the entrance. There are cells chiseled on both sides of the portico, with an inscription above the doorway of one of these cells. The walls of portico are filled with reliefs, including images of imitation caitya windows and balustrades.
The interior of Cave 7 is also apsidal and has a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It is approximately 6.4 m wide and 13.8 m deep. There are 26 columns dividing the central nave and side corridors. Most of the columns are unembellished, with the exception of five on the left side, which are carved with reliefs of Dharma wheels and lotuses. At the rear of the hall is a stupa with a large cylindrical base, a round dome shaped like an inverted alms bowl and a harmika with a lotus-shaped finial.