Buddhist Caves, Uparkot (Junagadh)-Gujrat

Accomoddation
Hotel Ashiyana, Hotel National, Hotel Anand, Hotel Relief.

How to reach there
Road: You can get buses leaving for Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Veraval, Porbandar and Bhuj at regular intervals during the day.

Rail: There are trains available for Veraval, Rajkot, & Ahmedabad.

Location
It is situated on the descent from the Jami Masjid.

        On the ground, the excavations are laid out which is open to the sky in the main portion. If one enters it from the south can be seen. Around the pond, are covered corridors and a verandah, the short steps running down to the base of the pond. A series of socket holes, for fixing wooden shutters, to control the flow of water to different cisterns, can also be observed. There once existed a superstructure, possibly of perishable material is suggested by the socket holes at regular alignment on the upper level of the rock roof.

      The pillars in these caves have spiral ridges on their shafts, octagonal plinth bases, and florally ornamented capitals, carrying animal figures. A rock-cut stairway near the door of this cell leads to the hall on the lower storey. This well-furnished and decorative hall has Buddhist rail decoration on the frieze above the recesses. Chaitya windows with a couple of female figures can also be seen.

       The hall has six pillars whose bases and capital mouldings have a marked similarity. The body of the capital has eight divisions; each section carries a group of women, multiple cobra-hoods, and dwarfed attendants. The bases have crouching lions at the corners and centres.