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.
The earliest monastic cells at Junagadh
The rock-cut caves, Junagadh.
The caves are cut into a low ridge of living rock and are generally dated to around the third century BCE, in the Mauryan period.
They were made as a vihara — a monastic residence — with long cells, an L-shaped wing and a sunken court, all plain and functional.
That makes them among the earliest Buddhist rock-cut excavations in Gujarat, predating the more elaborate Uparkot and Baba Pyare caves nearby.
The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and sits within the wider Junagadh monument group.
Reasons to make the time
Oldest caves
Probably the oldest Buddhist rock-cut caves in Gujarat, cut when the Mauryan empire still governed the region.
Buddhist viharas
These are dwellings, not shrines — cells for monks rather than a chaitya hall for worship.
Rock-cut cells
Everything is cut from the living rock: cells, benches, court and drainage, with nothing built up.
Water cistern
The excavation is arranged around a sunken open court, which gave the cells light and air.
Great antiquity
At over two thousand years old this is among the oldest human-made structures you can walk into in Gujarat.
Quiet & low-key
Almost nobody visits, even though Junagadh's other monuments a short distance away draw steady crowds.
What to look for inside
THE CELLSMonastic cells
Plain rock-cut cells, entirely unornamented, cut for use rather than display.
THE SITERock-cut caves
Austere Mauryan-era excavation, the earliest Buddhist work in the state.
How to spend an hour or two
See the cells
Go into the monastic cells and note how plain they are — this was accommodation, not a temple.
Find the cistern
Stand in the sunken court, which organised the whole excavation and gave the cells their light.
Sense the antiquity
Consider the date. These cells were cut while the Mauryan empire still ran this part of India.
Learn the Buddhist past
Set them in Gujarat's Buddhist history alongside Devni Mori, Kadia Dungar and the Junagadh caves.
Pair with Uparkot caves
Compare them with the later Uparkot and Baba Pyare caves nearby, which are far more elaborate.
Photograph the forms
Look at the rock-cutting itself — tool marks and the austerity of the lines are the whole aesthetic here.
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.)
For everything else the district holds, see our Junagadh travel guide.
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
PILGRIMAGEGirnar
~9,999 steps to cliff-top Jain & Hindu temples
ANCIENTAshokan Rock Edicts
Emperor Ashoka’s edicts carved ~250 BCE
ARCHITECTUREUparkot Buddhist Caves
A pillared mosque within the old fort
FORTUparkot Fort
Ancient citadel with stepwells, caves & cannons
JAINGirnar Jain Temples
Marble temple cluster high on the mountain
Jama Masjid, Uparkot
A pillared mosque within the old fort
Where to eat near Khapra Kodiya Caves
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
Spicy Saurashtra meals.
FARSANGhughra & farsan
Fried and steamed snacks.
STREETJunagadh 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
WATERKali Talavadi
A peaceful rural reservoir
WILDLIFERatanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
A rugged refuge of the Indian sloth bear
VILLAGEKhopala
A traditional Saurashtra village
Bhadrakali
The guardian goddess of Ahmedabad — a revered Shakti shrine set within the very Bhadra fort…
CURIOSITYJhulta Minar
The mysterious ‘shaking minarets’
DAMUkai Dam
A vast dam on the holy Tapi river
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026