Talaja Caves

{{Short description|Cave in India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox Cave

| name = Talaja Caves

| photo =Talaja caves.jpg

| photo_caption =Talaja caves, external view.

| location =Talaja, Gujarat

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| map = India#India Gujarat

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| label = Sana Caves

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| coords = {{coord|21.355474|N|72.032298|E|display=inline, title|region:IN_type:landmark}}

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{{Jainism}}

The Talaja Caves are located in Bhavnagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat at Talaja. The rock cuts are carved out into deserted conical rocks. The rock cut group include 30 caves among which about 15 are water tanks. The cave has unique architecture known as Ebhal Mandapa. The halls are plain. "On the facade there are chaitya windows with a broad bank below them." The chaitya and cells were carved during a time of Buddhist influence in the 2nd century BC.{{Cite web|title=Talaja, Palitana - Shatrunjaya, Rajkot, Tourism Hubs, Gujarat, India|url=https://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/6/222|access-date=2020-08-14|website=www.gujarattourism.com}}

During the Kshatrapas' regime in the 2nd century CE, Jain emblems were carved on the cells and the halls.{{cite web|last=Archaeological Survey of India, Vadodara Circle|title=Talaja Caves|url=http://www.asivadodaracircle.in/sites/talaja-caves/about|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=1 December 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235434/http://www.asivadodaracircle.in/sites/talaja-caves/about|archivedate=2 December 2013}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FWS-9HXW-p0C&q=Talaja+jain+Caves|title=Census of India, 1991: Kheda|date=1992|publisher=Government Photo Litho Press|language=en}} The caves were carved out before rock cut architecture begins in the Maharashtra.{{cite web |title=Talaja|url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/222|publisher=Gujarat Tourism, Govt. of Gujarat|accessdate=1 December 2013|archive-date=Aug 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831082908/http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/222 |url-status=dead}} According to some historians, the date of caves can not be traced out, however some believe that carving started by the end of 1st century CE.{{cite book|last=Brancaccio|first=Pia|title=The caves at Aurangabad : Buddhist art in transformation|year=2010|publisher=Brill Publishers|location=Leiden|isbn=978-9004185258|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_4pXm7dD78C&dq=talaja+caves&pg=PA63}}

File:Inside view of Talaja Cave.JPG|Inside view of a Talaja Cave.