Khapra Kodiya Caves
Somnath, Gujarat · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Cut low into a long spine of living rock on the northern edge of Junagadh, the Khapra Kodiya Caves are widely regarded as the oldest and most austere of the town's several Buddhist rock-cut groups. There is nothing decorative here, and that is precisely the point: these are plain monastic quarters, hollowed out as an L-shaped range of cells and a running verandah, where wandering monks of the early centuries could shelter, meditate and rest during the rains. Most historians place their excavation in the early historic period, broadly around the time of the Mauryan and immediately post-Mauryan centuries, which would make them contemporary with Junagadh's celebrated Ashokan rock edict nearby. Because the caves were carved from a soft, coarse rock and have weathered heavily over two thousand-odd years, their edges are blurred and some cells are open to the sky, giving the site a raw, unfinished honesty quite unlike the finer sculpted caves elsewhere in India.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Geeta Lodge (long-running pure-veg unlimited Gujarati thali, near Junagadh railway station)
- ✦Pure-veg Gujarati and Kathiyawadi thali houses around Kalwa Chowk and Uparkot
- ✦Local pure-veg snack stalls for fafda-jalebi, dhokla and kachori in the old town
About
Cut low into a long spine of living rock on the northern edge of Junagadh, the Khapra Kodiya Caves are widely regarded as the oldest and most austere of the town's several Buddhist rock-cut groups.
- There is nothing decorative here, and that is precisely the point: these are plain monastic quarters, hollowed out as an L-shaped range of cells and a running verandah, where wandering monks of the early centuries could shelter, meditate and rest during the rains.
- Most historians place their excavation in the early historic period, broadly around the time of the Mauryan and immediately post-Mauryan centuries, which would make them contemporary with Junagadh's celebrated Ashokan rock edict nearby.
- Because the caves were carved from a soft, coarse rock and have weathered heavily over two thousand-odd years, their edges are blurred and some cells are open to the sky, giving the site a raw, unfinished honesty quite unlike the finer sculpted caves elsewhere in India.
- The setting rewards a slow, contemplative visit.
- The ridge sits close to the old bed of Sudarshan lake and within easy reach of Uparkot Fort, so the caves form a natural first stop on a walking circuit of Junagadh's ancient heritage.
- Steps and a level platform let you look into the surviving chambers, where you can still read the logic of monastic life: shared verandah, individual cells, a water-management channel cut into the stone.
- Interpretation on site is minimal, so it helps to come with a little background or a local guide.
- Treat the caves as a quiet, secular heritage monument rather than an active place of worship, and photograph the long horizontal cave-line in the soft light of morning.
- For a meal afterwards, Junagadh is comfortingly easy for vegetarians.
- The town's pilgrim-and-market culture supports many pure-veg Gujarati and Kathiyawadi thali houses, and the long-running Geeta Lodge near the railway station is a well-loved unlimited pure-veg thali institution worth seeking out.
- Around the Uparkot and Kalwa Chowk area you will find simple pure-veg restaurants serving rotli, shaak, dal-bhaat, khichdi and sweet Gujarati touches, along with kachori, dhokla, fafda-jalebi and, in season, the famous Gir Kesar mango.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Khapra Kodiya Caves, near Uparkot Fort and Sudarshan lake bed, north Junagadh, Somnath, Gujarat, 362001
How to Reach: Junagadh is well connected by rail and road across Saurashtra, roughly 90 km from Somnath and Veraval by taxi or bus. The caves lie in north Junagadh close to Uparkot Fort; from Junagadh railway station or Kalwa Chowk it is a short auto-rickshaw ride, and they pair naturally with Uparkot and the Ashokan edict on a single heritage loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Khapra Kodiya Caves?
They are a group of very early Buddhist rock-cut cells and verandahs carved into a low ridge in north Junagadh, considered among the oldest and plainest Buddhist caves in the area. They served as simple monastic quarters and are visited today as a secular heritage monument, not an active place of worship.
How old are the caves and who made them?
Most historians date them broadly to the early historic period, around the Mauryan and post-Mauryan centuries, which would make them roughly contemporary with Junagadh's Ashokan rock edict. Because they are so weathered, exact dating is debated, so treat any single date as approximate.
How much time do I need, and is there an entry fee?
A visit takes about 20 to 30 minutes as the site is small and open-air. Entry is generally free or nominal; carry water and sturdy footwear, as the rock surfaces are uneven and there is little shade.
Can I combine the caves with other Junagadh sights?
Yes. They sit close to Uparkot Fort, the Ashokan edict and the town's other Buddhist caves, so they fit easily into a half-day heritage walk. Junagadh itself makes a popular day trip from Somnath and Veraval.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Khapra Kodiya Caves?
Junagadh is very easy for vegetarians. The well-known Geeta Lodge near the railway station serves an unlimited pure-veg Gujarati thali, and the Kalwa Chowk and Uparkot areas have several pure-veg thali houses plus stalls for fafda-jalebi, dhokla and kachori. In summer, look out for the region's famous Gir Kesar mango.
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