India
2,400+ high-definition creative commons photographs are presented in the India collections, on the linked pages you will find many photographs, and wherever possible I have added in relevant historical information, videos, maps and diagrams.
Museums
Tree and Serpent at the Metropolitan Museum, New York (67)
Early Buddhist Art on Stūpas from around India
The Bhārhut Stupa in the Indian Museum, Kolkata (68)
The Remains of the Bharhut Stupa
Statues and Reliefs in the Indian Museum, Kolkata (152)
Buddha, Bodhisattva and other Statues and Reliefs
Statues and Bronzes in the Patna Museum, Bihar (76)
Buddha, Bodhisattva and other Statues and Bronzes
Himalayan Art Gallery, Shivaji Museum, Mumbai (40)
Bronzes and Thangkas from the Himalayan Art Gallery
Gayā and its Environs
Mahābodhi Temple in Bodhgaya (92)
The Pilgrimage Site at the Buddha’s Awakening
Around Bodhgaya (32)
Sites in and around Bodhgaya connected with the Buddha
Nagarjuni, Barabar and Kawa Dol (88)
Early Cave Temple Sites
Daibutsu (Great Buddha) Statue (12)
Modern Japanese Sculptures
Three Tibetan Temples (92)
Some Colourful Temples in the Tibetan Tradition
Murals at Wat Thai (32)
Extensive Murals depicting Buddha’s Life-Story, Jatakas and Other Scenes
Pilgrimage Sites
Stūpas and Other Remains along the Pilgrimage Route (84)
Various Sites along the Pilgrimage Roads
Murals at Nava Jetavana, Shravasti (16)
Modern Murals at this new Indian Temple
In and Around Rajgir (Rājagaha) (68)
Veluvana, Gijjhakūṭa and Other Sites
Nālanda University (140)
Important Remains of a large Buddhist University
Pawapuri (Jaina Pilgrimage Site) (16)
Site of Mahāvīra’s Birth, Awakening and Passing
Sanchi and nearby Sites
East Gate of Stupa no. 1 at Sanchi (70 + 2)
Manussa Buddhas, Buddha’s Departure, Asoka’s Visit and other Reliefs
South Gate of Stupa no. 1 at Sanchi (43 + 2)
Birth, Asoka’s Visit, Manussa Buddhas and other Reliefs
West Gate of Stupa no. 1 at Sanchi (51 + 2)
First Teaching, Chaddanta Jātaka, Mahākapi Jātaka and other Reliefs
North Gate of Stupa no. 1 at Sanchi (44 + 2)
Māra’s Attack, Vessantara Jātaka, The Descent at Sankissa and other Reliefs
Stupa no 3, Sanchi (64 + 3)
Many Reliefs on this Later Stūpa
Temple no. 45 and other Ruins, Sanchi (40 + 1)
Some of the Temples, Monasteries and other Ruins near the Stūpas
Satdhara Stupas, Vidisha (20 + 2)
Extensive Stūpa site in an Idyllic Setting
Udayagiri Caves, Vidisha (40 + 4)
Hindu and Jaina Cave Site
Maharashtra Cave Sites
Triraśmi Caves, Nashik (87 + 12)
Fine Collection of Caves on the Trade Routes
Cave Sites near Lonavala
Kondane Caves, Rajmachi (32 + 3)
Remote Meditation Caves
Bedse Caves, Lonavala (36 + 3)
Early Cave Site with Fine Chaitya Cave
Bhaja Caves, Lonavala (56 + 5)
Some of the earliest rock-cut caves in western India
Karle Caves, Lonavala (48 + 1)
Earliy rock-cut caves including a fine Chaitya Hall
Ghoravadi Caves, Pune (24)
Buddhist caves converted into Hindu Temples
Cave Sites near Aurangabad
Pitalkhora Caves, the Brazen Glen (55)
Remote Meditation Caves
Aurangabad Caves, Group 1 (62 + 5)
Late Rock-Cut Cave Temples
Aurangabad Caves, Group 2 (53 + 4)
Late Rock-Cut Cave Temples
Ellora Caves (186 + 12)
Buddhist Caves at Ellora
Ajanta Caves 1-12 (109 + 8)
First Group of Caves including Many Paintings
Ajanta Caves 16-17 (82)
Second Group of Caves including Many Paintings
Ajanta Caves 19-26 (118)
Third Group of Caves with the Best Carvings
Sites in Andhradesa (TS and AP)
Ancient Sites
Amaravati Stūpa and Museum (62)
The Remains of the Original Stūpa and Artifacts from the Nearby Museum
Nagarjunakonda Museum (134)
The reliefs in the Nagarjunakonda Museum, and also some inscriptions and statues.
Reconstructed Nagarjunakonda Remains at Anupu (40)
University Remains, Amphitheatre and a Temple to Hāritī.
Phanigiri Hilltop Monastery (76)
Hilltop Remains of a Large Monastery, with a Museum of Artifacts Saved from the Site.
Bojjannakonda Stūpa, Cave and Monastic Complex (88)
A Complex on Two Hills and Various Levels.
Salihundam Stūpa and Museum Site (40)
A Large Stūpa Site Overlooking a River, and a Museum.
Guntupalli Stūpa and Cave Complex (36)
A Mahā Stūpa and a Plateau of Votive Stūpas, and a Cave Complex.
Pandavulametta Stūpa and Cave Complex (36)
A Cave Complex with a Mahā Stūpa and Votive Stūpas.
Thotlakonda Monastery (38)
A Monastic Complex with Stūpas, Chaitya Halls, Vihāras and Dining Areas.
Bavikonda Monastery (20)
A Monastic Complex with Stūpas, Chaitya Halls, Vihāras and Dining Areas.
Undavalli Caves (30)
A Four-Storey Cave Complex in Vijayawada.
Stūpa sites at Ghantasala, Bhattiprolu, Jaggayyapeta and Kotturu.
Hydrabad State Archeology Museum (15)
Some artifacts from the State Museum.
Modern Sites
Buddhavanam Stūpas, Telangana (40)
A Full-Sized Recreation of the Amarāvatī Stūpa, and other Small-Scale Stūpa Copies.
Buddhavanam Stupa Drum, Telangana (246)
A Large Collection of Reliefs, both Original and Copies.
Buddhavanam Lower Register Reliefs, Telangana (150)
A Varied Collection of Reliefs, both Narrative and Iconic.
Jātaka Stories at Buddhavanam, Telangana (55)
A Large Collection of Reliefs, both Original and Copies.
Mahabodhi Vihara, Hyderabad (77)
Modern and Well-Developed Temple
Amaravati Dhyāna Buddha Statue (112)
Large Seated Statue and Copies of Amaravati Reliefs
Dr Ambedkar Statues and Life Story (50)
Statues and the Life Story of Dr Ambedkar in Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful indeed to my good friends Leslie Shaw and Neal Ariyapala who accompanied me on my first trip to the Indian sites in 2013, and to Dr. Poe Kok who came with me to Sanchi and the cave sites in Maharasthra in 2017. On my visit to Andhradesa in 2024 Tiong Tan was my kappiya and helped me overcome the difficulties. It would not have been possible to do this work without them.
Dr. Kok meditating at Sanchi
Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu
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