Jammu & Kashmir
Saspol Caves – Ladakh
Ladakh contains some amazing monuments of Tibetan medieval culture, perhaps the most famous and most visited among them being the temple complex at Alchi. But with…
Karnataka
Badami Caves and Temples
Badami is a small town 105km south of Bijapur and just 100km north-west of Hampi in Karnataka. Set at the western end of a lake almost…
Madhya Pradesh
The Rock-cut Jain monuments of Gwalior – NE Group
One of the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rock-cut Jain monuments of Gwalior – NW Group
One of the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rock-cut Jain monuments of Gwalior – Siddhanchal (Urvai Group)
Siddhanchal (Urvai Group), one of the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rock-cut Jain monuments of Gwalior – SW Group
One of the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rock-cut Jain monuments of Gwalior – Gopachal Parvat (SE Group)
Gopachal Parvat, one of the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The Rock-cut Jain Monuments of Gwalior – Introduction
Introduction to the five groups of rock-cut Jain monuments carved into the side of Gwalior Hill, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Maharashtra
Shivneri Buddhist Caves – Junnar
The town of Junnar, 80km north of Pune in Maharashtra, has been an important trading and political centre for at least the last two millennia.…
Takli Dhokeshwar – Cave Temple of Shiva
Much has been written about the famous cave temples of India, I have covered quite a few myself over the past few years. But there…
Nigade (Padmavati) Caves
Located 15km east of Pale and Uksan Cave, and 14km north-east of Kamshet, Nigade Caves are another example of a lesser-known ancient cave site that…
Uksan Cave
Situated 60km north-west of Pune and 9km north-west of Kamshet in Maharashtra, Uksan Cave lies close to ancient trade route that climbs up the western…
Pale Cave – Evidence of Early Jain Faith in Maharashtra
The hilly region of Maharashtra on the western coast of India is famous for a long and rich tradition of rock-cut architecture, with world heritage…
Pokhar Cave – Saswad
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…
Cave 26 – The Forgotten Birthplace of Bhaja Caves
Situated less than 100m south-east of the Bhaja Buddhist Caves complex in Maharashtra is one of the regions best kept secrets, and a site that…
Patan Caves
Located on 1.5km north-east of Visapur Fort and 1.9km east of Bhaja Caves in Maharashtra, the village of Patan has three known rock-cut Buddhist excavations.…
Yelghol Caves
Located 1km south-west of Yelghol village in Maval Taluka in Pune District, Yelghol Cave is a Buddhist rock-cut excavation modifying what was a pre-existing natural…
Maan Cave – Pune
In previous blog posts I have featured both the well-known and somewhat obscure cave sites of Pune. Most Punekars will be familiar with the circa…
Vrudeshwar Cave Mandir – Pune
As some of you may know, in a previous life I was a Director of Software Quality for large computer security company. With a group…
Parvati Cave – Pune
Ask any Punekar what is the oldest surviving structure in Pune city, and they are likely to respond with Pataleshwar Caves. Situated on Jangli Maharaj…
Lohagadwadi Caves – Newly discovered inscription sheds light on early Jain faith in Maharashtra
As an archaeologist one of the things that continues to fascinate me about India is the sheer volume of new discoveries that are made almost…
Bhamchandra Caves – Bhamboli
Bhamchandra Caves are a set of rock-cut excavations located near Bhamboli, 40 km north of Pune in Maharashtra. There are six caves in total at…
Bhandara Caves – Induri
Bhandara Caves are a small set of modest Buddhist excavations located on Bhandara Hill near Induri, 36 km north-west of Pune in Maharashtra.
Firangai Cave Temple – Nanoli Hill
My annual visit to Pune this year continued my ongoing project to visit the many cave temples that exist in the region. Having already visited…
Ghoradeshwar Caves
Also known as Ghorawadi, Ghorawdeshwar and Shelarwadi Caves, Ghoradeshwar Caves are a small group of rock-cut excavations about 32 km north-west of Pune, close to…
Kanheri Caves – Mumbai
Located deep within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai, Kanheri Caves are a group of 109 Buddhist rock-cut monuments dating from the 1st -…
Elephanta Caves
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, Elephanta Caves consists of seven 6th century rock-cut caves located on Elephanta Island (or Gharapuri, “the city…
Mahakali Caves – Mumbai
The Mahakali Caves, also known as the Kondivite or Kondivita Caves, are a series of rock-cut shrines 5km south-east of Jogeshwari Caves in Mumbai, dating…
Jogeshwari Caves – Mumbai
Jogeshwari Caves in the Andheri district of Mumbai are amongst the earliest rock-cut cave temples built by Hindus in India. Dated to 520 – 550…
Mandapeshwar Caves – Mumbai
Located near Mount Poinsur in the Borivali suburb of Mumbai, Mandapeshwar Caves is an 6th – 8th century rock cut shrine dedicated to Shiva.
How to visit Bhimashankar, Amba-Ambika and Bhutalinga Caves on Manmodi Hill
The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills.…
Naneghat
Naneghat is an ancient mountain pass in the Western Ghats range near Junnar in Pune district of Maharashtra. During the reign of the Satavahana (200…
Bhimashankar Caves
The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills. All…
Bhutalinga Caves
The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills.…
Kondana Caves
Excavated out of solid rock some 2,100 years ago, Kondana Caves are a group of 16 Buddhist caves situated 33 km north of Lonavala and…
Amba-Ambika Caves
The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills. All…
Lenyadri Caves
The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills. All…
Tulja Lena Caves
Having explored the better known rock-cut caves near Pune (Bhaja, Bedse and Karla), I decided to take a day excursion to Junnar (90 km from…
Bedse Caves
The small group of Buddhist excavations at Bedse (alternatively known as Bedsa), completes the trilogy of caves along with Karla and Bhaja that can be…
Bhaja Caves
Bhaja Caves (or Bhaje Caves) are a group of 22 rock cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC, located near Lonavala, Maharashtra. The caves are 400…
Pataleshwar Caves
It’s hard to believe a place like this could be located on the downtown Jangli Maharaj Road (JM Road) in Pune. Most cave complexes I’ve visited…
Karla Caves
The enormous 1st century chaitya cave at Karla is also known as Karli and Karle. It’s considered to be the best preserved rock cut Buddhist…
Ellora Caves
Ellora Caves are 18 miles North-West of Aurandabad, so unlike Ajanta caves you won’t have such an early start in order to get there for…
Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are located about 100km north east of Aurangabad, it takes about two hours to drive there from the city. If possible try…
Odisha
Panchu Pandav Caves – Bhubaneswar
Located in the east of Bhubaneswar city, Panchu Pandav Caves was always going to be on my list of places to see as I have…
Khandagiri Caves – Bhubaneswar
Located directly opposite the Udayagiri Caves complex on the other side of the road, Khandagiri Caves comprises of 15 caves in total, and it is…
Udayagiri Caves – Bhubaneswar
Dating back as early as the 2nd century B.C, Udayagiri Caves are a fascinating set of deep cut sandstone caves 3km west of Bhubaneswar in…
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