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.

based on Wikipedia

use j/k or left/right arrow
to navigate through the photos below

001 Stairs Leading to the Site

01 Stairs Leading to the Site

002 View from the Maha Stupa

02 View from the Maha Stupa

003 View from the Base of the Maha Stupa

03 View from the Base of the Maha Stupa

004 Looking Back at the Maha Stupa

04 Looking Back at the Maha Stupa

005 View of the Maha Stupa

05 View of the Maha Stupa

006 The Remains of the Maha Stupa

06 The Remains of the Maha Stupa

007 A Small Rebuilt Stupa

07 A Small Rebuilt Stupa

008 View of the Stupa Field

08 View of the Stupa Field

009 View of the Stupa Field

09 View of the Stupa Field

010 Remains of a Votive Stupa

10 Remains of a Votive Stupa

011 A Rebuilt STupa

11 A Rebuilt STupa

012 Partially Rebuilt Stupa

12 Partially Rebuilt Stupa

013 Remains of a Votive Stupa

13 Remains of a Votive Stupa

014 A Collapsed Mandapa

14 A Collapsed Mandapa

015 A Broken Pillar

15 A Broken Pillar

016 View of the Upper Cave Temples

16 View of the Upper Cave Temples

017 Overhanging Cave Temple

17 Overhanging Cave Temple

018 Broken Carved Arch

18 Broken Carved Arch

019 Cave Seen from the Side

19 Cave Seen from the Side

020 Another View

20 Another View

021 Upper Cave

21 Upper Cave

022 Looking Inside the Upper Cave

22 Looking Inside the Upper Cave

023 Tree and Votive Stupas

23 Tree and Votive Stupas

024 Remains of Partially Excavated Caves

24 Remains of Partially Excavated Caves

025 Stone Staircase

25 Stone Staircase

026 The Lower Cave Complex

26 The Lower Cave Complex

027 View of the Complex

27 View of the Complex

028 View of the Complex from Above

28 View of the Complex from Above

029 Complex from Below

29 Complex from Below

030 A Vihāra

30 A Vihāra

031 Excavated Temple

31 Excavated Temple

032 Excavated Temple

32 Excavated Temple

033 Elaborate Excavations

33 Elaborate Excavations

034 View of the Chaitya Hall

34 View of the Chaitya Hall

035 Chaitya Hall Entrance

35 Chaitya Hall Entrance

036 Stone Roof Imitating Wood Structures

36 Stone Roof Imitating Wood Structures

 

Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu

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