Tourists look at a large Hindu stone structure at the Ellora Caves in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on November 16, 2012. The 34 Ellora caves are structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)
Sacred sites are known for their beauty, both in architecture and setting. Their construction is amazing proof of religious devotion — many are built on mountain tops and some hang off the side of a sheer cliff, while others are carved into mountains with bare hands to create breathtaking rock-cut architecture manually out of sandstone, cliffs, and rock formations. Here, we look at incredible cave temples of Asia; sites that have survived for centuries and continue to inspire.
Located in the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra, the Ellora Caves are made up of a complex of 34 monasteries and temples that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff. The caves not only bear witness to three great religions (Buddhism, Brahminism and Jainism) but they also illustrate the spirit of tolerance which permitted these three religions to establish their sanctuaries in a single place, according to UNESCO, which designated the caves a World Heritage Site.
The 12 Buddhist (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu (caves 13-29) and 5 Jain caves (caves 30-34) were built between the 5th century and 10th century, according to WorldHeritageSite.org. Today, tourists flock to the site to view the remarkable reliefs, sculptures and architecture.
NEXT: A cave temple said to be a king's favorite
About 2.5 miles north of Phetchaburi, Thailand is a majestic stalactite- and stalagmite-filled complex of caves housing numerous Buddha statues, said to be put in place by King Rama IV. Rama IV often used the caves for meditation prior to ascending the throne, according to Travel and Leisure Asia.
Visitors to the cave, which is accessed through a steep set of stairs, first see a golden Buddha figure that is often illuminated with a heavenly glow when sunlight filters in through the heart-shaped skylight, says Lonely Planet. On the opposite end of the chamber is an equally majestic16ft-long reclining Buddha.
NEXT: This cave is home to the finest art
Comprised of30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE, the Ajanta Caves in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India are home to paintings and sculptures described by the government Archaeological Survey of India as "the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting."
The caves are cut into the volcanic lava of the Deccan in the forest ravines of the Sahyadri Hills and are set in beautiful sylvan surroundings, according to UNESCO, which designated the caves a World Heritage Site in 1983.Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans.The caves were abandoned in AD 650 infavorofEllora, and were gradually forgotten until their 'rediscovery' by a British tiger-hunting party in 1819, says UNESCO.
NEXT: Caves comprised of sinkholes
Perhaps the most photographed cave in Thailand, the Phraya Nakhon CaveSam Roi Yot in Prachuap Khiri Khan is accessible via boat or foot along a steep, rocky 430m trail from Hat Laem Sala, according to Bangkok Post. Visitors to the site, however, will be rewarded with spectacular views from the cave. The roof of the two cave chambers are open, allowing the rays of the sun to shine through, illuminating the caves and giving it a mystical appearance.
The caves, made up of two sinkholes, also house a dry waterfall and dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, according to Renown Travel. But the most famous feature of the cave is the Kuha Karuhas pavilion, built at the end of the 19th century for the visit of King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V).
NEXT: Cave temple locate under a rock
A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, the cave monastery known as DambullaCave (or Golden Temple of Dambulla), with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka, according to UNESCO.
Located under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry, the caves were embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances in 1938. Inside the caves, there are Buddhist mural paintings coveringan area of 2100 square meters and 157 statues ofvarious sizes depicting images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses, says UNESCO.
NEXT: Home to thousands of Buddhas
Located next to the town of Pindaya, Shan State, Myanmar, the Pindaya cave is a Buddhist pilgrimage site and a tourist attraction located on a limestone ridge in the Myelat region. The cave isfilled with thousands of Buddha images made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement which have been put there over centuries, forming a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers, according to Tourism Myanmar.
The 8,000 depictions of the Buddha date back as far as 1750, says Atlas Obscura, and shows the holy figure in almost every one of his traditional poses, including a few unique depictions, such as the Buddha with a single seed in his upturned palm. The cave, which extends for about 490 feet along a well-worn path, also features a49ft pagoda named Shwe U Min (Golden Cave) Pagoda at the entrance.
NEXT: Rock-cut architecture at its finest
The Yungang Grottoes, ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong in the province of Shanxi, are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture and one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China. The grottoes' 252 caves and 51,000 statues represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries, according to UNESCO.
The caves were dug under the direction of the monk Tan Yao and are named after him. The large caves were dug to house the giant statuesand have a U-shaped plan and arched roofs, imitating the thatched sheds in ancient India. Each cave has a door and a window. The central images have tall bodies and occupy the major part of the caves, while on the outer walls 1,000 Buddhist statues are carved, a feature rarely seen in the tradition of Chinese history of grotto carving, says UNESCO.
NEXT: Caves that date back to the6th century
Carved out of soft sand stone of hill cliffs in Badami, India, the fourBadami cavesdate from the late 6th to 7th centuries, according to Earth Sky.
The planning of the caves is simple.Their architecture is a blend of North Indian Nagara Style and South Indian Dravidian style, according to K.V. Soundara Rajan's"Rock-cut Temple Styles." Each cave has a sanctum sanctorum, a mandapa, a verandah and pillars. The cave temples also bear exquisite carvings, sculptures and beautiful murals. One cave is devoted to Shiva, two to Vishnu, and the fourth cave is aJain temple, according to Wondermondo.There is also the fifth cave temple in Badami, a Buddhist temple in a natural cave which can be entered only on all fours.
NEXT: An "energy-giving" cave
Buddha statues stand in front of a rock carved with images covered in gold in Sadan cave. (Thierry Falise/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Near the picturesque town of Hpa An, which sits on the eastern bank of the Thanlwin (Salween) river in Myanmar, the giganticSadan Cave opens up to reveal Buddha images and pagodas. Visitors can walk through the cave, which is accessible by ferry and considered a significant location for celebrating the traditional water festival, according to Holiday Myanmar. A black-colored soil called "Kuayk thway" is found in the cave. Locals believe that the soil, which turns into a blood-red color when dissolved in water, can provide energy when ingested.
NEXT: The most popular Hindu shrine outside India
Located in a limestone hill in Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia, the BatuCaves are said to be 400 million years old. It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan, and is the focal point of Malaysia's Hindu festival of Thaipusam, when as many as 800,000 devotees flock to the site.
The caves feature a labyrinth of stunning caverns, accessible by walking up 272 steps, according to TIME. The trek has its rewards, however. The Temple Cave, the largest of the Batu caves, is an awe-inspiring sight when illuminatedby daylight through the openings on the roof, according to MalaysiaSite.nl. Visitors are also met by the long tailed-macaque monkeys that frequent the site.
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