Dunkar Cave 1

CHINA, Tibet, Ngari

Cave 1 of the first group is located at the western end of the first site, and features some of the best preserved and most intricate murals in western Tibet. The diamond-in-square ceiling is decorated with nine layers of detailed patterning. Moving from the largest square inwards, there are numerous animals, 55 Buddhas, coins and elephants, wheat-like plants, trees and leaves, suns, moons, canopies, bells, white dragons on a blue background, four lion heads in the corners, 20 stupas, and lotus flowers. Images of Indian mahasiddhas in contorted postures are found among these patterns.
The murals on the walls are divided into upper and lower registers. The upper registers features mandalas surrounded by Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings with multiple arms, apsaras, the Earth Goddess, Prithivi, and Vayu. In the lower registers, there are scenes from the Life of the Buddha and portraits of donors with Central Asian features.