Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c15.10

c15.10

At Guṇṭapalle a structural apsidal chaitya hall with a circular apse has been exposed in excavations which was put up about the middle of 2nd cent. A. D. as part of the Mahāyāna building activity. It is 53½' long and 14½' broad, with side walls about 4½' thick, raised on broad foundations. Its circular portion had provision for installation of Buddha images along the wall and some sacred object of worship in the centre which has not been found. This chaitya hall, one of the largest in size, had a vaulted roof with earthen ware finials (stūpikā) and with richly ornamented façade with Buddha images.