https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Saspol_CavesSaspol Caves - Revision history2026-09-07T10:37:36ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saspol_Caves&diff=157483&oldid=prev106.192.118.90: /* Dating the era */2021-01-28T07:53:48Z<p><span class="autocomment">Dating the era</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Painted cave temples}}<br />
{{refimprove|date=June 2018}}<br />
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery<br />
|map_type = India Ladakh<br />
|name = Saspol Caves<br />
|image =SAS16 ext 04 SM1074 gen.jpg<br />
|alt =<br />
|caption =Saspol Caves<br />
|coordinates = {{coord|34|15||N|77|9||E|type:landmark_region:IN-JK|display=inline,title}}<br />
|map_caption = Location in [[Leh District]] of [[Ladakh]]<br />
|map_size = 250<br />
|location=Saspol Caves, [[Leh District]], [[Ladakh]], [[India]]<br />
|date_renovated =<br />
}}<br />
'''Saspol Caves''' ({{aka}} '''Gon-Nila-Phuk Cave Temples''') are situated in the hills behind [[Suspol, Leh|Saspol]], [[Ladakh]], India, which is about 76&nbsp;km from the city centre of [[Leh]]. Paintings exist in five caves, two of them extensively damaged. One of the painted caves, that have been given a coat of lime wash and red paint in the exterior is the most visited and is considered as the main cave. Paintings of [[Anuttarayoga Tantra]] images of the main cave is very rare during the period of execution of these paintings. These caves are under the administration of Lekir Monastery.<br />
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== Dating the era==<br />
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Very few early period painted cave temples exist in Ladakh and these paintings are dated to the 10th century CE.<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/9619123/The_paintings_of_the_caves_of_Sa-spo-la_in_Ladakh_proof_of_the_development_of_the_religious_order_of_the_dGe-lugs_in_Indian_Tibet_during_the_15th_century/ Bellini, Chiara. 2014. “The Paintings of the Caves of Sa Spo La in Ladakh: Proof of the Development of the Religious Order of the DGe-Lugs in Indian Tibet during the 15th Century.” In From Mediterranean to Himalaya - A Festschrift to Commemorate the 120th Birthday of the Italian Tibetologist Giuseppe Tucci, edited by Dramdul and Francesco Sferra, 315–46, p.322]</ref><br />
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== Preservation status==<br />
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The caves, also known as Gon-Nila-Phuk Cave temples, are in danger of total collapse and were therefore listed in 2016 World Monuments Watch.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gon-Nila-Phuk Cave Temples and Fort |url=https://www.wmf.org/project/gon-nila-phuk-cave-temples-and-fort |website=wmf.org |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref> Rammed earth fortification can be seen on top of the hill near the caves.<br />
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==Conservation ==<br />
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Art and architectural conservation projects was carried out by [[INTACH]] Ladakh Chapter in 2015 and 2016 in collaboration with [https://www.facebook.com/acsnoida/ M/s Art Conservation Solutions]. The project was funded in 2015 by Prince Claus Fund and in 2016 and 2018 by the [[World Monuments Fund]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/princeclausfund/docs/2015_prince_claus_fund_annual_repor/78|title=Prince Claus Fund 2015 Annual Report|website=Issuu|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmf.org/project/gon-nila-phuk-cave-temples-and-fort|title=Gon-Nila-Phuk Cave Temples and Fort|website=World Monuments Fund|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref><br />
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==gallery ==<br />
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<gallery mode="packed-hover"><br />
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File:Ushnishavijaya Saspol.jpg|Ushnishavijaya<br />
File:Manjushri and Maitreya.jpg|Manjushri and Maitreya<br />
File:Amitabha Sukhavati.jpg|Amitabha in Sukhavati<br />
File:Wall Painting in Saspol cave DSCN7057 5.jpg<br />
File:Wall Painting in Saspol cave DSCN7083 1.jpg|Hevajra<br />
File:Wall paintings of Saspol cave 20180216 113556 08.jpg|Avalokiteshwara painting and Manjushri & Maitreya painting<br />
</gallery><br />
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==See also==<br />
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; Tourism infrastructure<br />
* [[Tourism in Ladakh]]<br />
* [[Geography of Ladakh]]<br />
* [[India-China Border Roads]]<br />
* [[List of districts of Ladakh]]<br />
* [[Siachen Base Camp (India)]] <br />
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; Borders<br />
* [[Actual Ground Position Line]] (AGPL), India-Pakistan border across Siachen region<br />
* [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC), India-China border across Ladakh<br />
* [[Line of Control]] (LoC), India-Pakistan border across Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir<br />
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; Conflicts<br />
* [[Sino-Indian War]]<br />
* [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts]]<br />
* [[Siachen conflict]]<br />
* [[Siachen Glacier]]<br />
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==References==<br />
<references /><br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://www.wmf.org/blog/painted-caves-saspol The Painted Caves of Saspol] February 7, 2017, World Monuments Fund<br />
* [http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/SaspolCaves_2806.aspx Saspol Caves] C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre, Chennai, Ministry of Environment and Forests& Climate Change, Govt of India<br />
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[[Category:Ladakh]]<br />
[[Category:Caves of Ladakh]]<br />
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