Indian rock cut sculpture is a work done after cutting out the solid rocks to produce mythological scenes, fanaticism, eroticism mainly found in the states of Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and some states of South India. The rock-cut art is more similar to sculpture than architecture as cutting out solid rocks produced structures. Some of the finest rocks cut structures are found in Bihar and Maharashtra. Chaityas and Viharas are rock cut structures made for Buddhist and Jain monks as their residence and worshipping zones.

The Ratha temple at Mahabalipuram is another great specimen of rock-cut architecture in ancient India constructed under Pallava dynasty. The Stupa at Sanchi is another masterpiece in this regard. However in the Gupta period Buddhism began to be overshadowed by Hinduism resulting in a abundance of Hindu carving. The dramatic rock-cut shrine at Udayagiri, near Bhopal dated 402 AD (the reign of Chandra Gupta II) combining Kushan tradition with innovation, is the earliest example of Gupta Hindu art. Dashavatara Temple at Devgarh near Jhansi, is a well-known Gupta Hindu sculpture, displaying the Nagara (North Indian) style of temples, erected about 425AD. Here, events from Ramayana are depicted in abundance. Ajanta-Ellora, Konark temple are wonderful work of rock cut art in the history of Indian art. Some of the famous rocks cut sculpture in Karnataka are Aihole, Badami Cave Temples, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Nellitheertha Cave Temple and Hulimavu cave temple.

Badami Cave Temples at Badami contain carved architectural elements such as decorative pillars and brackets as well as finely carved sculpture and richly etched ceiling panels.

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