Undavalli Cave Temples
16.483300,80.583300
Description
»Hindu caves« (VOYSEY, H W 1850: 293-294), »cave shrines« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 8: 19 Bezwada), »rock-cut shrines and mantapams« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 24: 130 Undavalle) or »ancient Hindu cave temples« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 778; 1997: 984) (note 1), which consist of four storeyes of east-facing, 7th century man-made rock chambers, which have been cut from Archaean rock (DUTT, N V B S 1981: 1) or from gneiss (VOYSEY 1850b: 293), were used for religious purposes, and complete with fabulous underground tunnel (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw the name of the name of the village after which the caves are called, transcribed, edited or printed as Undavalil LONELY PLANET, India (1990: 778; 1993: 922; 1997: 984) Undavalle India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 103 E4); IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 8: 19; 24: 130-131); SURVEY OF INDIA (1973: Tourist Map of Andhra Pradesh) Undavalli LONELY PLANET, India (2003: 903; 2005: 872; 2009: 975); LONELY PLANET, South India (2001: 440) Ungley VOYSEY, H W (1850b: 293-294). SITUATION: »Undavalle Caves« (Survey of India 1973: Tourist Map of Andhra Pradesh) are indicated with a cave symbol on the south side of the river Krishna and next to the populated place of »Undavalli« (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 103 E4) at a travelling distance (bus. No 301 from Vijayawada goes there) of 8 km along the National Highway NH5 south-west from Vijayawada / Bezwada (note 3) town. Here, the rock temples lie on a hill overlooking the right (south-west) bank of the river Krishna (Kistna) at the village of Undavalli / Undavalle / Undapalle (N16°29': E080°35'), the »Ungley« of VOYSEY, H W (1850b: 293-294). SITUATION 2009: »Four kilometres south-west of Vijayawada …« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 975). SITUATION 2005: »About eight kilometres [there and back again] west of Vijayawada …« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 872). SITUATION 2001: »About 8 km from Vijayawada, across the river … There's a regular bus service from the bus station in Vijayawada which will bring you here« (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 440-441). SITUATION 1997: »About eight km from Vijayawada, across the river, are the ancient Hindu cave temples of Undavalil [sic!]« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 984). SITUATION 1990, 1993: »Only few km from Vijayawada, but across the river« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 778; 1993: 922). SITUATION 1908: »Bezwada Town … 16°31'N. and 80°37'E. … Not far from the town, on the south side of the [Kistna] river are situated the famous cave shrines of Undavalle« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 8: 19). SITUATION 1909: »Undavalle.-- Village in the Guntur taluk of Guntur District, Madras, situated in 16°30' N. and 80°35' E.« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 24: 130). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1850: »I crossed the river early to visit the caves near the village of Ungley. They consist of three excavations one over the other; the roof is supported by pillars of the usual form in Hindoo temples. Around the walls were different relievos very much mouldered. The upper story contained a colossal figure of 25 feet [7.6 m] in length, lying on stones in a recumbent posture; around him on the wall in relif, figures of deities; and two colossal figures which appeared to protect his slumbers. The whole was excavated out of the gneiss rock, which is very fast decomposing, the decomposition taking place principally in the centre of the pillars. … The figures in the pyramid appeared to have their damage sustained from this cause repaired with plaster, which was fresh enough to lead one to the supposition of its being modern« (VOYSEY, H W 1850b: 293-294). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1909: »Undavalle … is chiefly famous for the numerous rock-cut shrines and mantapams which stand upon the hill beside it. The largest of these is a four-storeyed temple, with galleries and rudely sculpted figures, dedicated to Anantasayana [note 3], or Vishnu sleeping on the serpent, a colossal sculpture of whom is to be seen in the third storey. The caves are undoubtedly of Brahmanical origin, and perhaps belong to a date very soon after the downfall of Buddhism« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 24: 130-131). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1990: »… ancient Hindu cave temples of Undavalil« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 778; 1997: 984). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1999: to be imported (LONELY PLANET, India 1999: 1042). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001.1: to be imported (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 885). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001.2: »… the ancient Hindu cave temples of Undavalli. The rocks into which they are set were formed in an Antarctic-Indian collision some 16 million years ago. These caves, carved in the 7th century AD, house temples dedicated to Anantasayana (another name for Vishnu) and the Trimurti (the Hindu triad -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), which is the incomplete top section. Small, finely grafted statues of deities line the first floor. An inscription dated 1343 registers donations to the temple by an official of the area, Machamareddi. Deep within the right side of the caves a huge statue of Vishnu lies peacefully« (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 440-441). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003: »… the 7th-century Hindu cave temples of Undavalli, housing a huge statue of the reclining Vishnu. Other shrines are dedicated to Trimurti (the triad -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The caves are well worth a visit« (LONELY PLANET, India 2003: 903-904). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005: Guard yourself against the »… striking 7th-century Undavalli cave temples … [which] house a huge statue of the reclining Vishnu. Other shrines are dedicated to Trimurti (the triad -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The caves are well worth a visit« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 872). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2009: »… the stunning Undavalli cave temples (Indian/foreigner Rs5 / US$2; 9 am - 5 pm) cut a fine silhuette against the palm trees and rice paddies. Shrines are dedicated to the Trimurty -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva -- and one cave on the third levelhouse a huge, beautiful statue of reclining Vishnu while seated deities and animals stand guard out front. The caves, in their Hindu form, date to the 7th century, but they are thought to have been constructed for Buddhist monks 500 years earlier« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 975). CAVE POTENTIAL: Other "caves" known from the vicinity of Vijayawada include the tunnel of –>Akkana & Madanna on Telegraph Hill, –>Bezwada Cuttings, "caves" at –>Mangalagiri, and the "caves" at –>Mogalarajapuram (Moghalarajapuram). CULTURAL HISTORY 2001: »You'll need to find the man with the key to get in. Once in, he'll light a candle to display the sculpture. Few travellers see the caves but they are well worth a visit« (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 441). CULTURAL HISTORY 2002: »… admission Rs. 100 … The caves are well worth a visit« (LONELY PLANET, India 2003: 903-904). CULTURAL HISTORY 2005: »… Indian / foreigner Rs 5 / US$ 2 [circa Rs 200], opening time 6am-8pm) …The caves are well worth a visit« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 872).
NOTE 1: Noted by … ELLIOT (1876, lithograph) and the IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 8: 19; 24: 130-131). NOTE 2: VOYSEY (1850b: 293) was told of a fabulous underground tunnel: »The lower excavation leads, it is said, to Mungulghery [*] about three coss distant.« * Mangalagiri (N16°26': E080°33') lies at a linear distance of 6.3 km approximately SSW from Undavalli (N16°29': E080°35'). NOTE 3: Bezwada N16°31': E080°37' (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 8: 19; 24: 130-131) is positioned as Bezawada, Bezwada, Vijayavada and Vijayawada near N16°31': E080°37' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 3: Anantasayana and Ranganatha are reclining (recumbent) forms of Lord Vishnu.
Documents
Bibliography 03/07/2016Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1819.12.31: Dr. Henry Westley Voysey (?-1824, surgeon with HM 59th, 46th, and 1st Foot; natural historian, Great Trigonometrical Survey assistant between 1818-1824) crossed on »December 31st 1819« (VOYSEY 1850: 293-294) from »Bezwara« the river »Kistnah« (Krishna) to visit the »caves near the village of Ugley« (Undavalli).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | BEZWADA CUTTINGS, Vijayawada | ||
| 5.6 | MOGALARAJAPURAM, Vijayawada (Caves at) | ||
| 5.6 | AKKANA & MADANNA, Vijayawada (Tunnel of) | ||
| 6.6 | MANGALAGIRI CAVES | ||
| 25.6 | VENKATESHWARA CAVE, Amravati: Vaikuntapuram | ||
| 60.1 | MARRA CAVES (BLUNT 1803) | ||
| 62.5 | RAMA SINGHWARAM CAVE | ||
| 82.0 | GUNTUPALLE (Caves at) | ||
| 138.7 | PATTISAM ISLAND (Cave on) |