Guntupalli Stūpa and Cave Complex
high-definition creative commons photographs from the Guntupalli Stupa and Cave Complex in Andhra together with further information.
The Guntupalli (Guṇṭupalli) Group of Buddhist Monuments is located near Kamavarapukota, Eluru district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is around 40 km away from Eluru. The rock-cut part of the site has two Buddhist caves, a chaitya hall – which has a rare carved stone entrance replicating wooden architecture – and a large group of stūpas on an open plateau.
There are remains of structural buildings in brick and stone, including remains of two vihāras made of brick, as well as excavated caves at two levels, including an unusual structural hall built above ground. The core of this consists of the stone stūpa with an enclosed path around it allowing ritual circumambulation.
They mostly date to 200-0 BCE, with some sculptures added later. The main building above ground is in brick, around a stone stūpa, with over 30 smaller stūpas on a terrace in front of it. There are ruins of two other buildings.
During excavation, three relic caskets were found. The caskets had many precious elements like gold, silver, crystal beads. The bronze image of Padmapānī was found along with one of the caskets. The inscription on the casket was in the Devanāgarī script which indicates the year as from the 9th to 10th century CE.
There a long climb to the monuments up steep stairs. When we went there was only one guard, and no other visitors. There is a lot of modern graffiti on the walls, indictaing that the site does not enough staff to protect it, or restore it after damage. From the Mahā Stūpa there is a good view out over the surrounding forests and settlements.
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Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu
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