Pitalkhora (Petrigala): A Buddhist Monastery on the Dakshinapatha
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ExtractThe Pitalkhora Buddhist Caves (c. 250 BCE – 4th century CE), located in the Satmala range of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, represent the earliest stratum of rock-cut cave architecture in India. Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monument remains academically under-examined compared to Ajanta and Ellora. This paper, based on a field visit conducted in 2024, reassesses significance of Pitalkhora through three interlocking arguments: (1) its identification with Pt...
