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HERITAGE · BUDDHIST · CAVESKhapra Kodiya Caves
Gujarat's oldest Buddhist caves — the Khapra Kodiya caves at Junagadh, austere 3rd-century-BCE rock-cut monastic cells carved in the Mauryan age beneath Girnar.
Mauryan monastic cells
Among the lesser-known but historically priceless monuments of Junagadh are the Khapra Kodiya caves, believed to be the oldest Buddhist rock-cut caves in Gujarat, dating to around the 3rd century BCE in the time of Emperor Ashoka and the Mauryas. Cut into a low ridge of living rock, these austere caves are not ornate temples but plain monastic dwellings (viharas) — long cells, an L-shaped wing and an unusual sunken courtyard with a water cistern, where wandering Buddhist monks once meditated and sheltered during the rains.
Their stark simplicity, great antiquity and quiet setting make them an evocative window into the early Buddhist presence in Gujarat. Complementing the nearby (and more elaborate) Uparkot and Baba Pyare caves, Khapra Kodiya is a remarkable, low-key treasure for history-lovers. (An ASI-protected site; entry by ticket.)
Inside the Khapra Kodiya caves.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
The rock-cut caves, Junagadh.
Carved in the Mauryan/Ashokan age.
Plain monastic cells for monks.
Among Gujarat's earliest Buddhist caves.
An ASI-protected ancient site.
Reasons to make the time
Oldest caves
In Gujarat.
Buddhist viharas
Monastic dwellings.
Rock-cut cells
Carved from living rock.
Water cistern
In a sunken court.
Great antiquity
Over 2,000 years old.
Quiet & low-key
An overlooked gem.
What to look for inside
Monastic cells
Plain rock-cut rooms.
Rock-cut caves
Austere antiquity.
How to spend an hour or two
See the cells
The monastic rooms.
Find the cistern
In the sunken court.
Sense the antiquity
Over 2,000 years.
Learn the Buddhist past
Early Gujarat.
Pair with Uparkot caves
More elaborate ones.
Photograph the forms
Austere rock-cut lines.
The austere rock-cut caves.
Cells, court and cistern
Khapra Kodiya is a group of plain Buddhist rock-cut caves — long monastic cells, an L-shaped wing and a sunken courtyard with a water cistern — carved into a low rock ridge in the Mauryan era. Unadorned and austere, they are the oldest such caves in Gujarat, an evocative trace of the early Buddhist monastic presence beneath Girnar. (An ASI-protected site; entry by ticket.)
Oldest Buddhist caves in Gujarat
Mauryan-era (3rd c. BCE)
Plain monastic cells (viharas)
Sunken court with cistern
When to go
Cool and pleasant — the ideal season.
Green and atmospheric after rain.
Hot and dry — start early.
⏰ Visit in the morning and combine Khapra Kodiya with the Uparkot and Baba Pyare caves for the full Buddhist circuit.
Timings & entry
- Open daily, daytime
- Maintained by the ASI
- Pair with Uparkot caves
- A short visit
- A modest ASI ticket
- Watch your footing on rock
- Carry water
- Respect the ancient fabric
Getting there
By Air
Keshod / Rajkot airports.
By Rail
Junagadh station.
By Road
In Junagadh, near Uparkot.
At the caves
ROCK & TIME
Gujarat's oldest Buddhist caves
What to shoot
The rock-cut cells.
Detail
The cistern court.
Light
Shadow and stone.
Mood
Austere antiquity.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Old City Gates
◐ Bazaars & bustle
Datar Hill
A hilltop Sufi shrine with sweeping valley views
Durbar Hall Museum
A holy bathing tank at the foot of Girnar
Adi Kadi Vav
A rock-cut stepwell carved into living stone
Mahabat Maqbara
A fantastical Indo-Islamic royal mausoleum
Gir National Park
The last refuge of the Asiatic lion (nearby)
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiyawadi Thali
Spicy Saurashtra meals.
Ghughra & farsan
Fried and steamed snacks.
Junagadh chaat
Lively bazaar snacks.
Kesar mangoes
Famous Girnar-region Kesar mango & farsan.
Khapra Kodiya Caves FAQ
What are the Khapra Kodiya caves?
The oldest Buddhist rock-cut caves in Gujarat, at Junagadh, from the Mauryan era.
How old are they?
Around the 3rd century BCE — over 2,000 years old.
What are they like?
Plain monastic cells (viharas) with a sunken court and water cistern, not ornate temples.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, a modest ASI ticket.
What's nearby?
The Uparkot and Baba Pyare caves and Uparkot fort.
Where are they?
In Junagadh, near Uparkot.
How long does it take?
About thirty minutes.
When should I visit?
October to March, in the morning.
Related places across Gujarat
Rathwa Hamlets
Living Adivasi communities
Vijaynagar Jungle
Dutch & Armenian Churches
Relics of Surat's trading-port era
Sarthana Park
A riverside zoo & botanical garden
Gopi Talav
A restored medieval lake & lakefront plaza
Tithal Coast
Dark volcanic sand, palms and Arabian Sea breezes
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