The Talaja Caves are located in Bhavnagar district of the

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n state of

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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 A chaitya, chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, (Sanskrit:''Caitya''; Pāli: ''Cetiya'') refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. The term is most common in Buddhism, where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded ...

and cells were carved during

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...

influence in 2nd century BC. During the Kshatrapas' regime in 2nd CE

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

emblems were carved on the cells and the halls. The caves were carved out before rock cut architecture begins in the Maharashtra. According to few Historians the date of caves can not be traced out however some believe that carving started by the end of 1st century CE. File:Inside view of Talaja Cave.JPG, Inside view of a Talaja Cave.

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