The Undavalli Caves are located in the village of Undavalli in Guntur District, near the southern bank of Krishna River, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
These caves are associated with Vishnukundin kings – influential dynasty ruling over significant part of contemporary India from 420 – 620 AD. First Vishnukundin kings were supporters of Buddhism and Undavalli Caves were started as Buddhist temples. Later the caves were taken over by Hindus and major part of artwork seen here today is related to Hindu religion.
These caves have been carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside. The best known and largest one has four stories with a huge statue of Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture sculpted from a single block of granite inside the second floor.
Other shrines inside the cave are dedicated to Trimurti: to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Main cave belongs to the earliest examples of Gupta architecture, primarily primitive rock-cut monastery cells carved into the sandstone hills.
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