Since the beginning of time, caves have been an important part of civilisations. It is where the earliest humans found shelter from the harsh natural forces outside. Some of the caves in India have now been found to have hosted the earliest humans from the Stone Age to Buddhists and Jain monks to artists who created grand structures in these caves. An object of endless fascination, these caves in India are considered to be a marvel in every sense of the word. Gorgeous sculptures and stunning paintings on cave walls are all evidence of the magnificence of those that lived hundreds of years ago. If you are a history buff, it would be criminal to pass off visiting these caves in India.
Tales of ancient history told through caves in India
1. Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves is one of the most magnificent caves in India and tells us the fascinating stories of ancient India. These caves are naturally formed but served as habitations for the Buddhist and Jain monks from the early 2nd century BCE to 480 CE. This cave in India is filled with marvellous paintings and sculptures, regarded as the finest examples of ancient Indian art.
Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 10 for Indians
INR 250 for Foreigners
How to get there?
The caves are around 400 km from Mumbai. From here, you can either take a train or a bus to Aurangabad. After reaching, you can hire a private taxi to take you to the caves.
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2. Elephanta Caves
The Elephant Caves in India are a significant set of rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. These caves in India are dated between the 5th and 9th centuries and are said to have been patronised by many kings of various dynasties. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this cave in India contains iconic rock-cut sculptures of Trimurti- Shiva, Nataraja, and Yogishwara.
Location: Gharapuri, Maharashtra
Timings: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Entry fee:
INR 40 for Indians
INR 600 for Foreigners
How to get there?
Take a ferry from the Gateway of India jetty for Rs 150 to Gharipuri, Elephanta Islands. From the harbour, you can either walk to the base of the hill or take a toy train which charges Rs 10, to the caves.
3. Bhimbetka Caves
The Bhimbetka caves are one of the oldest caves in India and are said to span across the Paleolithic and Monolithic periods. This is an important cave because it is evidence of the earliest signs of human life in India. This cave in India is also evidence of life flourishing during the stone age period, making it one of the caves in India with a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. Various animals are painted on the walls of these caves, and some are said to be as old as 10,000 years!
Location: Bhojpur Raisen, Madhya Pradesh 464990
Timings: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 25
INR 500 for Foreigners
INR 100 for two-wheelers
INR 300 for cars
How to get there?
Bhopal is a major city in Madhya Pradesh, and you can reach here by train, bus or flight. From here you can hire a private taxi to the caves.
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4. Kanheri Caves
This wonder of this cave in India consists of a hundred and nine caves! They are all gorgeous rock-cut monuments carved into stones in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Dated from the 1st century BCE to the 10th century BCE and most of these caves in India were meant for Buddhist monks to live, study and meditate.
Location: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai
Timings: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 15
INR 200 for foreigners
How to get there?
You can take a bus to Sattani Park, from where you will need to take a taxi to the caves. Or you can hire a private vehicle to Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
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5. Karla Caves
The Karla caves are a set of giant rock-cut caves in India located in Karli, near Lonavala, Mumbai. These splendid set of caves in India are Buddhist in origin and is said to have developed over the course of the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. These caves in India are not the oldest nor the biggest, yet they are best known for the Grand Chaitya Hall. Located in cave no.8, it is the only one that is the most well-preserved and almost intact in structure.
Location: QFMC+858, Karla, एकवीरा देवी रोड, Lonavala, Maharashtra 410405
Timings: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 15
INR 200 for foreigners
How to get there?
From Lonavala, Karli is just 12 km away. Lonavala is well-connected to Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. From Lonavala, you will need to take a bus or a car to Karli.
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6. Bhaja Caves
The Bhaja Caves in India is a set of 22 magnificent rock-cut caves located in Pune. These caves in India are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. One of the most significant features of these caves in India is the presence of numerous stupas and an excavation of a Chaitya. The caves are proof of the existence of the knowledge of wooden architecture. Furthermore, the image of the tabla disproves the theory that the instrument was brought by the Turko-Arabs.
Location: PFHJ+9J3, Bhaje Caves Road, District, near Bhaja Village, Maval, Lonavala, Maharashtra 412106
Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 15
INR 250 for foreigners
How to get there?
Around 3 km away is Malavli, which has the nearest railway station connected to Lonavala, which is further connected to Pune and Mumbai.
7. Udaygiri Caves
The Udaygiri Caves are twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. These marvellous caves in India are dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Vishnu, whose avatar of the man-boar, Varaha, is depicted. These splendid caves in India are dated to around the 5th century CE and are known to be the only set of caves in India traced to a distinct dynasty, the Gupta dynasty.
Location: GQPC+GV4, Udaigiri, Madhya Pradesh 464001
Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entry fee:
INR 15 for Indians
INR 250 for Foreigners
INR 25 extra for a camera
How to get there?
Vidisha is the nearest railway station and bus stop from where you can book a taxi to reach the caves. Vidisha is well-connected to Bhopal, which is just 45 km apart.
We hope this article gave you a glimpse of history through these marvellous caves in India. And here’s to hoping you experience all of this soon. Supporting you throughout the journey would be Treebo Hotels, with its 1000+ properties across 120+ cities with free wifi, complimentary breakfast and comfortable and clean rooms.
