Situated 9km south-east of Saswad just north of the road leading to Purandar Fort, Pokhar Cave probably ranks as one of the least-known of numerous rock-cut excavations to be found throughout Maharashtra.
There are two separate excavations cut into the rock-face here, one above the other. The lower excavation consists of a rough-cut doorway carved into a natural recess, leading to a small single cell. Within this cell are a number of crudely carved deities, highlighted by vermilion. The most obvious is a Trimurti, immediately to the right of the doorway.
The remaining “carvings” are far more difficult to make out, to the extent that one could suggest there are no carvings at all and the images have been created purely by the application of vermilion.
The upper excavation consists of a verandah, almost completely natural, with a number of small shallow niches cut into the walls. Access to this upper level is via some rough cut steps, which have been significantly weathered and overgrown by vegetation. In front of the cave is a partially ruined wall forming a rectilinear enclosure.
Dating Pokhar Cave is almost impossible unfortunately with the absence of any inscriptions for cave architecture. The rough nature of the interior of the lower single cell may suggest that this is potentially of Buddhist origin, but was abandoned before completion. Perhaps fractures found in the rock prevented the cave excavators from continuing.
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Categories: India, Maharashtra, Pokhar Cave - Saswad
Kevin Standage 
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