Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/rsP_hsbUw6s
Undavali Caves
Location:
“Undavalli
Cave Temple, FHWJ+VV4, Penumaka - Vijayawada Road Near Prakasam, Barrage,
Undavalli, Andhra Pradesh 522501”
References:
https://www.trawell.in/andhra/vijayawada/undavalli-caves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undavalli_Caves
The Undavalli Caves are monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture,
located in Guntur district in the Indian state
of Andhra Pradesh. The caves are located
south west of Vijayawada. It is one of the centrally
protected Monuments of National Importance.
Carved out during the Gupta period, dated back to 4th-5th
century CE, the caves include many deities of Narasimha along with other
avatars of Lord Vishnu can be seen carved out there. Carvings also include
scripts from the legendary Ramayana epic too. These
are associated with the Vishnukundina kings of 420–620 CE.
These caves are dedicated to Ananta Padmanabha, a form of Vishnu laying
upon Shesha.
Later Jain and Buddhist monks used these caves as rest houses.
The caves are believed to be carved out of solid
sandstone on a hill side. Undavalli Caves stand as an impressive testament to
India's vast rock-cut architecture heritage. At the grand entrance lies an
expansive open hall filled with exquisite sculptures of Lord Vishnu and other
deities from Sanatana Dharma history. The second-floor has small cells with
intricate carvings depicting individual stories. The 3rd floor has a
huge reclining idol of Shri Vishnu. And the top most floor there is a small
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
These caves stand out as an impressive blend of Indian
and Buddhist architectural styles, making them a truly special treasure trove.
The largest cave is five stories high - making it one of India's grandest
rock-cut cave complexes. An enigmatic underground passage connects these
historic caves to the tranquil Krishna River for further enigmatic wonderment;
carvings depict scenes from Hindu mythology as evidence of India's past
artistic excellence.
Undavalli Caves have earned their place in history as an early example of
Indian rock-cut architecture, reflecting their creators' pioneering spirit.
The splendor of these caves was first uncovered by
British archaeologist Colin Mackenzie in the early 19th century. The chambers
within the caves are an oasis where stones speak of forgotten legends,
architecture brings tales to life, and history whispers throughout.
Timings:
Monday to Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
How
to reach:
By Air: The nearest airport
is the Vijayawada International Airport or Gannavaram International Airport.
Get to the city centre by taxi, which is about 25 km from the airport. From
there the caves are around 6.5 KMs, any local transport is available
By Bus: Vijayawada is well connected with national highways and
good frequency of buses to and from the city to major cities of Telangana,
Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. The caves are around 6.5 KMs from the Vijaywada
city.
By Train: Vijayawada is extremely well connected by trains. It has
one of the biggest and busiest railway stations in India, with more than 300+
trains passing through it. Vijayawada Junction Railway Station (BZA) has trains
to all the major cities of south India.
Stay
options:
Vijaywada is the best place to stay with plenty of
stay options
Nearby
places to visit:
1) Kanaka
Durga Temple (on hill top)
2) Bhavani
Island
3) Akkana
Mardana Caves
4) Kondapalli
Forts
5) Pavitra
Sangamam
6) Amaravati
Stupa and Amareshwara temple
7) Mogalrajapuram
temple
8) Ancient
temples at Iluru, Shrikakulam, Mopidevi, Pedakapalli and Yanamalkudduru,
9) Sangameshwara
temple, Bhavanarayana Temple at Diviseema
10) Bhattiprolu
Buddhist stupa
11) Avanigadda
Laxmi narasimha temple
12) Ghantasala
Buddhist stupa and temple
13) Shri
Panakala Narasimha temple and Shri Laxmi Narasimha temple at Mangalagiri
14) Shri
Kashi Vishweshara temple at Chinakakani
Akkana
Mardana Caves
Location:
“Akkanna
Madanna Caves, #10-2-66, Arjuna St, Durga Agraharam, Mallikarjunapeta,
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520001”
References:
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/akkanna-madanna-caves/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkanna_Madanna_Caves
Akkanna Madanna caves are a group of rock-cut Hindu cave temples
in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh,
India. Dedicated to lord shiva, the caves date back to mid-7th
century and are believed to be excavated by the Eastern chalukya dynasty.
Situated just at the foot of the Indrakiladri hills, where the famous Kanaka
Durga temple is situated, the site we found closed by the ASI department with
no entry whatsoever opened. I took the photographs from outside. Please do not
follow the google maps, it will lead you to unknown galis and even people there
won’t recognize the name of the caves. They are situated right at the entry
point of Kanaka Durga temple. Prefer an auto instead of your own vehicle to
visit it and the suggestion would be to cover the caves along with a visit to
the Kanaka Durga Temple.
The caves are believed to be one of the earliest of
the Hindu rock-cut temples found in Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra
Pradesh. The nearby Mogalrajapuram caves were
created shortly after the Akkanna Madanna caves, followed by the Undavalli
caves, Penamaga caves, Sitaramapuram caves, and the Bhairavakonda caves – all
by about mid-8th century. This view is not universal. For example,
Archaeological Survey of India dates them between 6th and 7th-century.
The intricate carvings depicting mythological themes
offer valuable insights into the religious beliefs and practices of the time.
The intricate carvings and sculptures adorning the
pillars and ceilings depict the workmanship of the artisans. These caves
consist of two distinct chambers – the upper and the lower cave. The upper cave
is the larger of the two and better preserved. The upper cave features
inscriptions dating back to the 7th century and shed light on the prevailing
social and religious practices of that time. The lower cave has a triple-celled
structure and intriguing layout which adds to the curiosity of history lovers.
Today, these caves are currently managed by the ASI (Archaeological Survey of
India) and serve as a popular pilgrimage site for devotees, attracting visitors
who seek both spiritual solace and a connection with the city’s glorious past.
The caves are currently named after two brothers of
the 17th-century – Akkanna and Madanna. Little is known with certainty about
the early and mid life of Akkanna and Madanna. They became famous during the
last decades of political and economic turmoil of the 17th-century Qutb Shahi dynasty, a Shia Islamic dynasty
ruling Golconda Sultanate. Golconda was already under seize from Aurangzeb,
then the governor of the Deccan region (later the Mughal emperor). The brothers
helped Tana Shah gain the throne, and he appointed the brothers as ministers,
making them responsible for collecting the jizya tax from the non-Muslim
citizens (primarily Hindus representing most of the Golconda population). The
brothers, according to Dutch East India Company archive records, soon were
responsible for all collected taxes and the disbursal of the exchequer. With
the control of the purse, their power grew. They used the taxes for the welfare
of the people states Gijs Kruijtzer – a scholar known for his studies on
Golconda Sultanate history. This included the upkeep of the temples, building
new temples, and appointing more Brahmins including their famous nephew
named Bhadrachala Ramadasu to various
positions within the Golconda Sultanate, as already discussed during the video
of Bhadrachalam temple.
Aurangzeb, when informed of the power of Akkanna and
Madanna by the Muslim officials in the Golconda Sultanate, sent his army to
attack it. After a seize and the payment of large tributes to the Mughal
empire, soldiers led by Shah 'Alam – the son of Aurangzeb, beheaded Akkanna and
Madanna. This assassination was done, by some accounts with the knowledge of
Abul Hasan Tana Shah. By other accounts, Tana Shah was unaware and the heads of
Akkanna and Madanna were sent to Aurangzeb's son. Several monuments in the former
Golconda, including these caves continue to be remembered after the Akkanna and
Madanna brothers
How
to reach:
By Air: The nearest airport
is the Vijayawada International Airport or Gannavaram International Airport.
Get to the city centre by taxi, which is about 25 km from the airport.
By Bus: Vijayawada is well connected with national highways and
good frequency of buses to and from the city to major cities of Telangana,
Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
By Train: Vijayawada is extremely well connected by trains. It has
one of the biggest and busiest railway stations in India, with more than 300+
trains passing through it. Vijayawada Junction Railway Station (BZA) has trains
to all the major cities of south India.
Timings:
Monday to Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm
Stay
options:
Vijaywada is the best place to stay with plenty of
stay options
Nearby
places to visit:
15) Kanaka
Durga Temple (on hill top)
16) Bhavani
Island
17) Undavalli
Caves
18) Kondapalli
Forts
19) Pavitra
Sangamam
20) Amaravati
Stupa and Amareshwara temple
21) Mogalrajapuram
temple
22) Ancient
temples at Iluru, Shrikakulam, Mopidevi, Pedakapalli and Yanamalkudduru,
23) Sangameshwara
temple, Bhavanarayana Temple at Diviseema
24) Bhattiprolu
Buddhist stupa
25) Avanigadda
Laxmi narasimha temple
26) Ghantasala
Buddhist stupa and temple
27) Shri
Panakala Narasimha temple and Shri Laxmi Narasimha temple at Mangalagiri
28) Shri
Kashi Vishweshara temple at Chinakakani