Chaityas

Chaityas are large, rock-cut Buddhist prayer halls or monasteries found mainly in India, dating from around the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. Carved directly into cliffs or hillsides, they feature a central shrine with a stupa— a dome-shaped structure representing the Buddha's remains — and often include columns, carvings, and murals that depict Buddha's life and teachings. These structures served as places for meditation, worship, and community gatherings, reflecting the spread of Buddhism and its artistic and architectural achievements during ancient times.