| Title | Cave Temple architecture styleRare |
|---|---|
| Description | Cave temples, found throughout India, represent an ancient tradition of carving sacred spaces directly into natural rock formations, often associated with various Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. |
| Also Known As | Natural Cave Temple with Ancient Hindu Shakti Peeth Architecture Natural Cave Architecture Ancient Shakti Peeth Design Indus Valley Religious Traditions Vedic Period Worship Sites Makran Coast Hindu Heritage Bagan Cave Temple Architecture with Hindu Vishnu Reliefs Bagan Cave Temple Architecture Indian Rock-Cut Cave Temple Influences Hindu Vishnu Iconography Cave Temple Design |
| Tags | Rock-cut Cave Temple Mandapa Sanctum cave temple rock-cut sculpture painting |
| Style ID | INHF-STY-6385561716-08:10:05:21:01:25:CTAS |
| URI | https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/styles/cave-temple-architecture-style |
| API Endpoint | https://www.inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/cave-temple-architecture-style |
| Total Sites | 2 |
| Primary Sites | 0 |
| Created | November 19, 2025 |
| Last Updated | November 29, 2025 |
External References
Regions
| Regions | Maharashtra Karnataka Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Madhya Pradesh India China Myanmar Thailand Afghanistan |
|---|
Historical Context
| Time Periods | Ancient Early Medieval 2nd century BCE 12th century CE |
|---|---|
| Dynasties | Mauryan Empire Gupta Empire Chalukya dynasty Rashtrakuta dynasty |
Sacred Context
| Sacred Contexts | Hindu temples Buddhist monasteries Jain shrines Buddhist temples Taoist temples |
|---|---|
| Associated Deities | Shiva Vishnu Devi Buddha Mahavira Bodhisattvas Hindu deities |
Architectural Details
| Primary Materials | Basalt Granite Sandstone Rock |
|---|---|
| Architectural Features | Rock-cut architecture Sanctum Mandapa Pillars Sculptures Cave interiors Paintings |
Keywords
| Keywords | Rock-cut Cave Temple Mandapa Sanctum cave temple rock-cut sculpture painting |
|---|
Recommended Sources
| Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Rock-Cut Architecture | Book | Overview of cave temple architecture in India |
| The Cave Temples of India | book | General overview of cave temple architecture. |
Heritage Sites (2)
| Site Name | Status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hinglaj Mata Temple Lasbela Balochistan | Secondary | 100% |
| Kyauk Gu Ohnmin Temple Bagan | Secondary | 100% |
See Also
Related Materials
Basalt
Granite
Sandstone
Rock
Related Features
Rock-cut architecture
Sanctum
Mandapa
Pillars
Sculptures
Cave interiors
Paintings
How to Identify Cave Temple architecture style
- Look for characteristic features: Rock-cut architecture, Sanctum, Mandapa.
- Verify geographic location: Cave Temple architecture style architecture is typically found in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Examine construction materials: Cave Temple architecture style typically uses Basalt and Granite.
- Consider historical context: This style dates from Ancient.
- Compare with documented examples: 2 heritage sites use this architectural style.