Book Description

The present book entitled Rock Cut Temples of Western India is an exhaustive book that covers all the caves of Western India. The book is the need of the times as a more researched book, a more detailed book on Western Caves has not been published after James Burgess and James Fergusson. Modern view points and deeper under- Standing of the caves was essential. The study required huge travel around the caves it was difficult to access some caves. Since there are no facilities around, photography was extremely perplexing. However the book was completed within a span of three and a half years. Focus of the book is on the evolution of the chaitya and the vihara caves as well as an comprehensive documentation of all the caves. Each cave was carefully studied and their architectural, cultural details were documented. A comparative study too has been included as similarities and dissimilarities establish a more authentic dating in case of absence of inscriptions. The book also throws light on many unidentified sculptures. The special contribution of the book is the inclusion of practically all caves .even some caves that were not included by James Burgess and Fergusson like the unknown caves of Kol, Yerphal, Pohale, Nadsur and Nenavali. Some of these caves are simply in accessible. Besides all the documentation the book has also taken special pains to assess and evaluate the present conditions of all these monuments as after a gap of many years many cave groups are in an extremely bad condition. Those caves under ASI are in fairly good condition, though of course caves like Ajanta where the painting despite commendable development and conservation work being done are in a bad condition due to climatic and other geographical and man made reasons. In the study major scholars work has been referred to as their contribution is significant.