Gondrani
Gondrani, also known as Shehr-e-Roghan, is an archaeological site near the town of Bela in Balochistan, Pakistan. Situated to the north of the town of Bela and approximately from Karachi, it lies within the Lasbela District. Renowned for its unique features, the site is also known by several evocative names, including the Cave City of Lasbela, the Cave Dwellings of Gondrani, the House of the Spirits, and the town of Mai Gondrani.
History
The exact history of the town is not known, nor who built the caves. Historians believe that the town was once a large Buddhist monastery dating back to the eighth century, when the region was part of a Buddhist kingdom. André Wink in his book Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam: 7th-11th Centuries states that:According to another source, Journal of the Society for South Asian Studies, the site cannot be conclusively linked to Buddhist heritage, though it does show Buddhist characteristics:
The Geographical Journal agrees that the caves are of Buddhist origin:
Caves of Gondrani
The Caves of Gondrani are locally known as Puraney Ghaar, simply translating to ‘Old house’.,They are carved into solid conglomerate rocks at several levels, and are connected by pathways. All the caves have small rooms with hearths and wall niches for lamps, along with verandahs or front porches.
During British rule, around 1500 caves were reported, but now only 500 remain. The caves are in poor condition and are slowly eroding. No conservation efforts have been made to protect the site due to poor accessibility and lack of knowledge of the archaeological site and no spirit from Archeological Society of Pakistan to conserve such non-islamic historical places, unless it attracts traffic.