Bagh caves
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Bagh caves are a group of Buddhist rock-cut caves in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. They are near the Baghani stream and date to c. 5th–6th century CE. The caves are mostly viharas, which means living halls for monks. They matter for their wall paintings (murals), which are close in style to those at Ajanta. This shows that the Ajanta style of painting spread across central India.
Example
Cave 4, called the Rang Mahal ("palace of colours"), has the best-known murals. They show processions of people on horses and elephants, and groups of musicians and dancers. They were painted in c. 5th–6th century CE.
Don't confuse with
- Ajanta in Maharashtra has many more caves, including both chaitya halls and viharas. Its murals often tell Jataka stories. The Bagh murals are fewer and mostly show courtly and festive scenes.
- Bhaja caves near Lonavala are much earlier (c. 2nd century BCE) and are known for relief carvings, not paintings.
Related concepts
- Rock-cut architecture
- Barabar caves
- Lomas Rishi cave
- Nagarjuni caves
- Rock-cut monasteries
- Chaitya and vihara
- Bhaja caves
- Karla caves
- Kanheri caves
- Nasik caves