Major Buddhist Rock-Cut Caves in India for UPSC and UPPSC PRE

Major Buddhist Rock-Cut Caves in India

Chronology + Dynasty + Features in one glance for quick Prelims retention.

Cave Site	State	Period	Dynasty / Reign	Patron / Ruler	Important Features
Barabar Caves	Bihar	3rd BCE	Mauryan	Ashoka & Dasharatha	Oldest rock-cut; polished; start of tradition
Nagarjuni Caves	Bihar	3rd BCE	Mauryan	Dasharatha	Barabar style continuation
Bhaja Caves	Maharashtra	2nd BCE	Satavahana	—	Hinayana chaitya; wooden imitation
Karla Caves	Maharashtra	1st BCE	Satavahana	Nahapana inscriptions	Largest chaitya; pillars
Bedsa Caves	Maharashtra	1st BCE	Satavahana	Merchants	Hinayana chaitya & vihara
Nasik (Pandavleni)	Maharashtra	1st BCE–2nd CE	Satavahana	Gautamiputra Satakarni	Inscriptions; vihara
Kanheri Caves	Maharashtra	1st BCE–10th CE	Satavahana → Rashtrakuta	—	From Hinayana to Mahayana; vast complex
Ajanta Caves	Maharashtra	2nd BCE & 5th CE	Satavahana & Vakataka	Harishena	Paintings; Jataka; Mahayana
Pitalkhora	Maharashtra	2nd BCE	Satavahana	—	Early Hinayana; chaitya
Ellora (Caves 1–12)	Maharashtra	5th–7th CE	Vakataka/Chalukya	—	Multi-storey vihara; Mahayana
Aurangabad Caves	Maharashtra	6th–7th CE	Vakataka	—	Ajanta-like Mahayana style
Junnar Caves	Maharashtra	2nd BCE	Satavahana	Traders	Many small Hinayana caves
Bagh Caves	Madhya Pradesh	5th–6th CE	Gupta/Vakataka	—	Ajanta-style paintings
Dhamnar Caves	Madhya Pradesh	7th CE	Post-Gupta	—	Caves with stupas
Junagadh (Uparkot)	Gujarat	2nd–3rd CE	Western Kshatrapa	—	Monastic caves
Undavalli Caves	Andhra Pradesh	4th–5th CE	Vishnukundin	—	Rock-cut monastery
Guntupalli Caves	Andhra Pradesh	2nd BCE	Satavahana	—	Rock-cut stupa (rare)
Mogalrajapuram	Andhra Pradesh	Early CE	Ikshvaku/Satavahana	—	Krishna valley remains
Badami (Buddhist)	Karnataka	6th CE	Chalukya	—	Mixed-faith cave
Sittanavasal	Tamil Nadu	7th CE	Pandya	—	Mural tradition similarity