Pandavleni

   Pandavleni Caves are a group of around twenty four 2000-year-old Hinayana Buddhist caves, built by the Jain kings as home for the Jain saints.[1] This holy site is located 8 km south of Nashik in the Nashik District in Maharashtra state of central India.

topHistory 

    The caves can be traced back up to 1st century B.C. There are two main caves. The main cave which is the Chaitya (prayer hall) has a beautiful Stupa. Both the caves have some carvings also. The caves are facing eastwards. So it is recommended to visit the caves early morning as in sunlight the beauty of carvings is enhanced.

    A very famous incident is told about the caves. Till around 1861, the carvings on the walls and the Stupas were in proper condition. A British Officer after hearing about this arranged his visit there. When the local officer came to know about this, he urgently employed labour to clean and paint the walls of the caves.

topAttractions

    Inscriptions in caves 3,11,12,13,14,15,19 & 20 are legible. Cave 15 - 'Sri Yajna Vihar' inscription mentions Sri Yajna Satkarni, the last Satvahan King who ruled over the western Maharashtra. Similar inscription in cave 3 at Kanheri. This means pfobably the cave was carved during the begining of 3rd century A.D. Other inscriptions note the names Bhattapalika, Gautamiputra Satkarni, Vashishthiputra Pulumavi of the Satvahanas and two of the Kshatrapas, Dakshamitra and Ushavadant. Cave 10 - 'Nahapan Vihar' is spacious with 16 rooms. During llth century Jain influence, idols of Tirthankar Vrushabhadev, Veer Manibhadra, Devi Ambika installed. Idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva locally identified as of Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev, Shrikrishna, Karna and hence the local name PandavLeni. 

    The caves were carved out in the 1rst and 2nd century as abodes for the idols of the Jain kings. The caves lodge idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva and the icons of Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, Veer Manibhadraji and Ambikadevi.

    Some of the caves are large and served as a vihara or monastery for the disciples to meet and hear sermons. They contain interesting sculptures. One of the vihara caves is older and finer in sculptural detail and is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Another cave is a Chaitya and is similar in age to the Karla Cave and has a particularly elaborate facade.

    The site has an excellent water management system and skillfully chiseled out of solid rock are several attractive water tanks

topReaching There

topTrek Routes

topBus Timings

topAccommodation

The caves are taken care of by the Archeiological Survey of India; hence not allowed to stay.