Preliminary Explorations at the Cave Complex at Kothaligad, Taluka Karjat, District Raigad, Maharashtra
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Herein we report preliminary archaeological explorations of a complex of 5 caves and other rock-cut architecture associated with the fort of Kothaligad, in the village of Peth, Karjat Taluka, Raigad District, Maharashtra, India.
Preliminary Explorations at the Cave Complex at Kothaligad, Taluka Karjat, District Raigad, Maharashtra
- 1. Preliminary Explorations at the Cave Complex at Kothaligad, Taluka Karjat, District Raigad, Maharashtra Sagar Mundhe1 , Raamesh Gowri Raghavan1 and Kurush Dalal1,2 1 Centre for Extra-Mural Studies and 2 Centre for Archaeology, University of Mumbai
- 2. 18属59'32.89"N; 73属30'46.78"E Peth wadi, Ambivali village, Karjat Taluka, Raigad District Nakhind Pass Kavlyachi Dhar
- 3. Geography of Kothaligad Kavlyachi Dhar Vajantri Ghat Ganesh/Ganpati Ghat Ambenali Shidichi Wat
- 5. Plan of caves Cave diagrams not to
- 6. Cannon, plinth & bastion Approach to fort via Gateway
- 7. Cannon, plinth & bastion Cast-iron Cannon 66 in length 9.5 wide at the mouth Bore 3.5 Small plinth approx 3 X 3' Basalt blocks Bastion #1 20 ft high, basalt blocks
- 10. Cistern #2
- 11. Cistern #3 14 44
- 12. Cave #2 2B 2A
- 17. Cave #4
- 19. Cistern #8
- 20. Cistern #9
- 21. Cave #5
- 22. Cave #5 Plan (not to scale) 5D 5E 5F 5G 5C 5B 5A Cistern 9 Towards stairway Towards bastion From main gateway Pillars Doorways Bench with plinth ^N
- 23. Cave #5A
- 25. Cave #5C
- 26. Cave #5C pillars
- 27. Cave #5D doorway
- 28. Cave #5D doorway
- 29. Lonad Temple, Bhiwandi Taluka, Thane District Ambarnath Temple, Ambarnath Taluka, Art historical similarities
- 30. Cave #5D Window
- 31. Cave #5E
- 32. Lower Stairway
- 33. Cave #6
- 34. Cave #7
- 35. Upper Stairway
- 36. Archway
- 38. View from top
- 39. Machi of the fort
- 40. Mortar in Peth wadi Reference image
- 41. Upside down remains of Ganesha statue being worshipped
- 42. Conclusion A complex of 7 caves closely associated with 9 cisterns and with fortifications Cave 5 is a complex of 5 subcaves, with carvings that indicate Shilahara-Yadava origin Given its elaborate doorway, Cave 5D seems to have been the most important Caves 5, 6 & 7 are closely associated and probably belong to the same period Prima facie it appears that the upper stairway was cut later, for it is more strongly associated with military features rather than religious ones Whilst the fortifications were defintely in use during the Mughal-Maratha period and even later, on art historical grounds, Cave 5 definitely belongs to the late Shilahara- Yadava period
- 43. Previous Mentions Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Thana District 1882 Maharastra State Gazetteer Kulaba District 1964
- 44. Kothaligad is unique in that it represents a possible continuity between Early Medieval religious architecture and Late Medieval military architecture.