15 Ancient Rock-Cut Caves in Maharashtra to Explore

Maharashtra is nestled in the formidable Sahayadri Mountain Range and have been home to monks of different religions. The Caves of Maharashtra have an extraordinary appeal and aura in the Ajanta caves or the sculpture of the Ellora caves, or the divine presence in the Elephanta caves. Caves of Maharashtra offer a visit that is truly unforgettable and are known for their excellent architecture. Follow the link know more about Top 10 Incredible Rock Cut Caves in India.

Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta Caves are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments includes paintings and sculptures of Buddhist religious art. Caves are located in Aurangabad district near Jalgaon and world’s greatest historical monument recognised by UNESCO and famous for its Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries with their extraordinary wall paintings.

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves is an archaeological site near to city of Aurangabad and well known for its monumental caves. The World Heritage Site of Ellora is known for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples, the first 12 caves are Buddhist and 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. Kailasanatha temple of Ellora is Cave 16, designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva.

Kanheri Caves

A group of rock-cut monuments that are located to the north of Borivali within the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Kanheri Caves demonstrate the Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India and offer picnickers a getaway, especially during the rainy season.

Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves. Elephanta Caves consists of two groups of caves group of two Buddhist caves and Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva.

Karla Caves

A complex of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut cave shrines located in Karli near Lonavala, on the Pune-Mumbai Road and are approximately 40 km away from the city of Pune. Karla Caves is one of the most famous centres of early rock-cut architecture in Maharashtra.

Bhaja Caves

Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves located in Pune, near Lonavala at 400 feet above the village of Bhaja. The Bhaja Caves share architectural design with the Karla Caves and the most impressive monument is the large shrine chaityagriha, a prayer hall with a stupa at one end.

Bedse Caves

Bedse Caves are two main caves known as chaitya and monastery, It is located nearby Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves. Bedse Caves can be reached from Pune via Kamshet and best time to visit Bedse Caves is the rainy season as the hills are filled with lush greenery during that time.

Lenyadri Caves

Lenyadri caves are a series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves, located near Junnar in Pune, Lenyadri Cave 7 is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ganesha. It is one of the Ashtavinayak shrines, a set of the eight prominent Ganesha shrines in Maharashtra.

Pandavleni Caves

The Pandavleni Caves also known as Trirashmi Caves are a group of 24 caves representing the Hinayana Buddhist caves. Pandavleni Caves are located high in the mountains of Trirashmi,by trekking of about 20 mins and a good destination where the person feel relax.

Pataleshwar Caves

The Pataleshwar Cave Temple is located on the downtown Jangli Maharaj Road Pune, Jangli Maharaj Mandir and Pataleshwar Cave temple are located next to each other. A rock-cut cave temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva has been declared as a protected monument by the government.

Pitalkhora Caves

The Pitalkhora Caves are located in a valley in the Satamala range of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, The 14 rock-cut cave monuments are one of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India.

Aurangabad Caves

The Aurangabad caves are 12 artificial rock-cut Buddhist shrines located on a hill nearby Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad. Aurangabad Caves are soft basalt rock divided into three separate groups as Sculptural carvings, Indian classical art and paintings.

Mahakali Caves

The Mahakali Caves are a group of 19 rock-cut Buddhist monuments located in the western suburb of Andheri, consists of two groups of rock-cut caves – 4 caves more to the north-west and 15 caves more to the south-east.

Jogeshwari Caves

The Jogeshwari Caves are the earliest Hindus and Buddhist cave temples sculptures located in the Mumbai, Jogeshwari is the earliest major Hindu cave temple in India and the largest one too, situated at off the Western Express Highway and classified as endangered as sewage and waste enter the premises.

Mandapeshwar Caves

The Mandapeshwar Caves are rock-cut shrine dedicated to Shiva[1] located near Mount Poinsur in Borivali There are four rock-cut shrines in Mumbai Elephanta Caves, Jogeshwari Caves, Mahakali Caves, Mandapeshwar Caves and all four caves have the same sculptures.