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Rock Temples

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Rock Temples

There are many rock temples and rock-cut temples in India. Some of them are mentioned here --

(1) Rock cut Temple at Pullayar Patti
On the way to Raameshwaram, there is a rock cut temple at Pullayar Patti. Actually the Pullayar is carved in rock, and the temple was made of quality rocks. Specifically to mention, it was one of the temples maintained with extreme neatness.

(2) Raameshwaram Temple
It is a biggest irony, how the temple was built by the Setupati Raajaa of Raamnaad bringing all the rocks, when even the railway bridge and road was not there.

(3) Rock Temples at Khajuraaho
One of the most famous rock-cut temples at Khajuraaho. Though the temples are on top of a hill it was another wonder how so much rocks could be brought there for so many temples.

(4) Kailaashnaath Temple at Elloraa
Danteedurgaa, the first of Raashtrakoot kings in southern India, seized power over Chaalukya kings at Badaamee (south of the Rivar Krishnaa) in 752 AD. The Raashtrakoot capital was established at Elloraa near the modern city of Aurangaabaad, North of the River Godaavaree, where Danteedurgaa's successor Krishnaa I (reign, 756-775) subsidized the excavation of India's foremost rock temple, one of the architectural wonders of the world - the Kailaashnaath Temple of Lord Shiv. This was carved out of a mountain of solid rock. The genius of Indian stone carving has never been so brilliantly demonstrated. There are many Buddhist, Jain and other Hindu caves at Elloraa, some quite beautiful, but there is only one Kailaashnaath.

(5) Ajantaa Caves, in Aurangabad, Mahaaraashtra,
These caves contain 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BC. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art as well as fresco which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lankaa. Since 1983, the Ajanta caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage

(6) Baatu Caves, in Kuala Lumpur, Malayesia
Batu Caves is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in the Gombak district, 8 miles (13 Kilometers) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Baatu or Baatu River,which flows past the hill. Baatu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

These caves are one of the most popular Hindu shrines site outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan (Kaarttikeya). It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia. Rising almost 100 meters above the ground, the Baatu Caves Temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller caves. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a very high ceiling and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors must climb a steep flight of 276 steps. At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. A 140 feet 42.7 metre) high statue of Lord Murugan was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 10/19/13