Historical Geography of Ancient India c10.96

c10.96

*Bāgh*.—This village is situated in the south of Malwa, about 25 miles south-west of Dhar. It stands at the confluence of the Wāgh or Bāgh and Girna streams. It lies on an old main route close to the Udaipur Ghat, 12 miles north of Kukṣī (Gwalior State Gazetteer, I, 196-197). To the south of this village is situated a vihāra, now much in ruins. The caves are nine in number. No inscription is found in these caves. The best images representing the Buddha or a Bodhisattva with two attendants are found in the south-western group in cave No. 2. The paintings at Bāgh may be dated the 6th century or first half of the 7th century A.D. The dagoba which is found in a few of these caves, contains no image of the Buddha. But there are images of the Buddha here and there in these caves. The architecture is not of the same type as that of the Nasik caves. The cave No. 2 known as Paṇḍaboṅkigumphā is well preserved. It is a square Vihāra with cells on three sides and a stūpa inside a shrine at the back. The ante-chamber has pillars in front and its walls are adorned with sculptures. The cave No. 3 is a Vihāra. The cave No. 4 is the finest specimen of architecture. There is a portico more than 220 ft. long supported by 22 pillars. The cave No. 5 is a rectangular excavation, the roofs being supported by two rows of columns. The roof of cave No. 6 is dilapidated. The cave No. 7 which seems to be similar to the cave No. 2, is also dilapidated. All the caves are vihāras, there being apparently no caitya hall or Buddhist Church attached to them.