Tushar Agrawal
2.7K posts
@Tush_Ag
SME Investments | Building @TruetribeAdv | Ex-startup Investor | Advaitaholic | INFP | Love supporting good guys win
The roof of Karla cave in India has teak wood ribs from 160 BC. These timbers have survived 2,200 years of Indian monsoons... The great prayer hall of the Karla Caves in Maharashtra, India 🇮🇳, contains one of the most extraordinary survivals of ancient woodworking in the world: teak wood ribs installed around 160 BC, that still remain intact more than 2,200 years later. Carved into solid basalt rock during the height of early Buddhist expansion in India, the cave complex was designed to resemble the wooden architecture of earlier structures, blending stone craftsmanship with real timber elements. The massive vaulted ceiling, lined with these ancient teak beams, demonstrates the sophistication of Indian engineering and architectural planning long before the medieval era. Teak’s natural oils and resistance to insects and moisture helped preserve the wood through centuries of intense monsoon seasons, humidity, and changing climates. Karla was an important stop along ancient trade routes connecting the Arabian Sea to the Deccan Plateau, and wealthy merchants often funded Buddhist cave complexes like this one. The grand chaitya hall was used for prayer and meditation around a central stupa, creating an atmosphere meant to inspire both devotion and awe. Several inscriptions at Karla mention donations from traders, monks, and even foreign merchants known as Yavanas, Indo-Greeks connected to the Hellenistic world, showing how culturally interconnected ancient India had become through long-distance trade. #archaeohistories
