India - The historic ensemble of Dhamnar

The Dhamnar caves are located on a hill near the village of Dhamnar spread across a span of 5.2 hectares. Dhamnar village is in the Mandsaur district of the state of Madhya pradesh, India. Mandsaur village, formerly known as Dasapura is located 22 km from the location of the caves. This rock cut site consists of a total of 51 caves of varying sizes carved into the laterite hill. The hill consists of two groups of structures, the series of Buddhist caves and the hindu temple complex known as the Dharmarajeshwara temple, also called Dharmanath temple. The series of caves consists of 14 larger caves and 37 smaller caves. The caves consist of dwellings, halls of various sizes, stupas, statues of Buddha in rare postures and displays of craftsmanship in the works with the stone imitating the details of wooden elements and decorative designs. The dwellings demonstrate features of large doorways and window elements. The temple complex is situated 170 feet away from the north of cave number 12 of the Buddhist set of caves. The pit of the temple complex is measured to be 170 feet long, 66 feet broad and 30 feet deep. The southern side of the hill has a crescent shape, where the entrances to the caves are found. The caves have been mentioned by three different accounts of explorers James Tod who visited the site in 1821, James Furgusson in 1845 and later by Alexander Cunningham who visited the site in 1864-65. Each of the authors have made descriptions of the caves and have mentioned the count of caves as per their findings. S.No Type Special Features Cave No 1 2 volumes Carvings in the west wall, two cells in the rear with an open porch Cave No 2 3 volumes One Vihara, two celled with a porch Cave No 3 1 volume Stupa with chhatravali Cave No 4 1 volume Stupa with three-tier chhatravali Cave No 5 2 volumes Best preserves example of Chaitya-Vihara and an open porch Badi Kacheri 2 volumes Large hall with pillars and stone beams resembling wood architectural members. Sanctum with a stupa in the rear volume. Cave No 7 1 volume Larger porch than room Chota Kacheri 1 volume Raised level, Stupa with three-tier chhatravali and circumambulatory passage. Vaulted ceiling to the rectangular hall. Cave No 9 5 volumes 4 volumes with one having a raised bed like platform with a pillow carved on either end. Separate volume for half a stupa carved into the rock. Rani ka Makan/Kamaniya Mahal 1 volume 4 Pillars inside the volume with an portico at the entrance Bhim Bazar 1 volume Chaitya with a stupa on which Buddha is sculpted in seated posture. Stupa with three-tier chhatravali and circumambulatory passage. 6 half stupas at the entrance. Hathi ka Mekh 1 volume Chaitya cave with 16 feet high entrance doorway with a central stupa supporting the roof. Chota Bazar 5 volumes An Apsidal Chaitya-griha. 9 carved figures of Buddha. 2 seated figures on either side of the entrance. Rare 15 feet long, reclined/ Nirvana image of Buddha depicted on the east wall. 3 figures of Pandu and his two sons as known to locals. Cave No 14 3 volumes