Mogalarajapuram Caves, Vijayawada

The Mogalarajapuram caves are a testimony to the heritage of Vijayawada, the ruins of the 5th century. These caves are located in the heart of Vijayawada city in "Kasturibepet" of Krishna district. The religious significance of the caves is due to the five rock-cut sanctums, these include Nataraja, Ganesha and Ardhanarishvara. Different sections of the cave are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Durga.

A stone-carved statue of Ardhanarishvara, the bisexual form of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati (Shakti), is unique to this place which gives us a good glimpse of the bygone times of this place.

1. These caves date back a few millennia and are multi-storeyed carved into the hill.
2. There is a huge idol of Padmanabha Swamy in these caves which is very impressive. Some say that it was probably a statue of Buddha which was later replaced.
3. You can find some carved inscriptions from the 6th century which resemble the early Telugu language.
4. It is a very old Mughal monument and has caves specially carved into the hill rocks.
5. The main attraction of this place is the Ardhanarishwari idol which you cannot find anywhere in South India.

📅 Last update: 2024-07-13 || ✍ Author: Sandhya Chauhan

Meet Sandhya, exploring India with curiosity and wonder. She shares info and tips in simple language, inviting you to join the journey. She is graduated in tourism and writes about the places of India.