Buddhist Caves in Bandhavgarh

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently reported 26 Buddhist caves in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Details –

• The 26 caves that were found are associated with the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
• These date back to the same time as the Ajanta caves in Aurangabad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Besides the caves, the ASI team also found the remains of 26 temples, two mathas, two stupas, 46 idols and sculptures, 26 fragments and 19 water bodies.
• ASI also mentioned a Buddhist pillar fragment containing a miniature stupa carving, dating to the 2nd-3rd century CE, and 24 Brahmi inscriptions from the 2nd-5th century CE.
• The temples are from more recent times — the Kalachuri period (9th-11th century), while the water bodies range between 2nd-15th centuries CE.
• The places Kaushami, Mathura, Pavata (Parvata), Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa are mentioned in the Brahmini inscriptions, while the inscribed names of kings include Shri Bhimsena, Maharaja Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.

About the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve –

• Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968 and became a tiger reserve in 1993.
• Tala, Khitauli and Magadhi comprise the three main zones of the national park, which together cover an area of 716 km.