India certainly has some of the best temples, monuments and breathtaking landscapes amidst snow-capped Himalayas. But apart from all this, apart from all the culture and heritage walks, India is also known for their numerous mysterious caves. No, we are not just talking about the famous Ajanta and Ellora or even Mumbai’s favorite Elephanta caves! There are a lot more. From Odisha to Andhra Pradesh and also Madhya Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir there are many beautiful caves in India that must be explored. Some have stunning sculptures and carvings, while some have stalagmites and stalactites on them. Most of these caves are also one of the finest examples of various types of architecture of those times and also have depicted some really fascinating Buddhist life and teachings. Exploring these caves will not only treat you to a leisure trip but will also give you a better and detailed understanding about India’s heritage
Here are the ten most mysterious and beautiful caves in India, which you would want to explore after reading this!
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1. Borra Caves, Andhra Pradesh
Located in the Vishakapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh, the Borra caves also known as Borra Guhalu in Telugu is one of the largest in India. Standing at an elevation of 705 m, these caves display beautiful types of speleothems all in different sizes and shapes. A speleothem is a type of cave formation that is usually made of limestone. The Borra cave is 80 m deep which is also considered to be on one of the deepest. And as per history, it is said that Sir William King who was a part of the Geographical Survey of India found the existence of these stunning caves. The Borra Caves house a Shiva lingam. According to popular folklore, it is said that once a cow reached the top while grazing and fell from the top through the deep hole. The cowherd set out to search for this cow and it is then when a stone in the shape of the lingam was discovered. The cow was found safe and it was believed that it was Shiva who protected the cow. It is really fascinating to know that incidents like these instantly build a faith among people.
This story soon spread around the village and the locals built a small temple around it. And since then, not just locals, but also people from all over come here to visit the caves for its beauty and also to worship Shiva. And because the caves are located in Araku Valley, in Ananthagiri hills, the views are also magnificent. Also the caves look stunning when it is lit up which was an addition done by the Government.
2. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Madhya Pradesh
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that demonstrates one of the most primitive traces of human life on the Indian sub continent. It is said that this was the beginning of the South Asian Stone Age. Situated in the Raisen district in Madhya Pradesh inside the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, this cave is one of the most beautiful ones that also display the early traces of dance. The name Bhimbetka comes from Bhima who was a hero-deity of Mahabharata and Bhimbetka exactly means the sitting place of Bhima.
As per UNESCO, Bhimbetka saw its first mention in the archaeological records as a Buddhist site in 1888. In 1957, V. Wakankar, the man who found this cave was traveling to Bhopal by train when he saw rock formations. They looked similar to what he had seen back in France and Spain. On exploring the place with a team of archaeologists, he found many more prehistoric rock shelters.
The major attraction about Bhimbetka is the rock paintings and sculptures that are at least 30,000 years old. The paintings are of different time period and several of the colors used have faded with time since they used pure vegetable colors. Look out for two particular paintings, one that shows a man being hunted by a wild boar and the other where Nataraj is shown dancing holding a trishul. Nataraj is a depiction of Shiva as a dancer. Doesn’t this interesting story make you want to visit the Bhimbetka caves?
3. Amarnath Cave, Baltal, Jammu and Kashmir
A place of Hindu worship, the Amarnath cave which is also a temple is one of the biggest tourist attractions of India. Situated in Jammu and Kashmir in Baltal, the cave lies at an altitude of 3,888 m and has a great significance in Hinduism. The ice stalagmite which also symbolizes the Shiva linga is what attracts tourists from all over and this ling is one of the most revered shrines of the country. Pilgrims in large numbers flock to this stunning place braving the extreme climatic conditions only to offer their prayers and pay their respects.
Amarnath cave has the ice stalagmite that is made from the freezing water that falls from the roof and drops to the floor. And according to religious beliefs, this ice linga changes his shape as per different phases of moon. Though there has been no scientific evidence of this, locals and people from across the country strongly believe in this. If you go back to the times of Gods and Goddesses, it is said that this is the exact spot where Shiva told his consort Parvati the secrets of life and eternity. You will also find two other small ice formations inside the cave that represents Parvati and Ganesha.
The Amarnath temple also has a well known called the Amarnath yatra that is done every year by pilgrims. In 2011, this temple recorded about 634,000 persons visiting which is the highest. This procession is carried out in July till August which is also the holy month of Shravan. You got to see it to believe the immense faith that people have.
4. Undavalli Caves, Andhra Pradesh
Photograph courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Located approximately 6 km from Vijayawada, the Undavalli Caves in Andhra Pradesh is a perfect example of the Indian rock cut architecture. Originally, it was a Jain cave that represented the architecture of Khandgiri and Udaygiri and they are known to be the greatest testimonials to the ancient viswakarma sthapathis which is usually wooden sculpture. The Undavali caves ate made of sandstone and was made in the 4th and 5th century AD. With so many caves here, the largest one is where you can find a huge and stunning statue of Vishnu in a reclining position.
Undavalli depicts how Buddhist architecture that led into the making of these stupas and artifacts were later converted into Hindu temples. The main cave here represents the Gupta architecture that were basically rock cut cells made into sandstone hills. The first floor of the cave still has a Jain style and has a Buddhist monastery also called vihara. Located in a perfect scenic spot, surrounded by green countryside, the views that the top of the cave offers are splendid. It overlooks the alluring Krishna River and also gives you a view of the many rock cut architecture specimens.
5. Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Orissa
Photograph courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Located in Orissa near Bhubaneshwar, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are both man-made and natural. These caves have a high religious and also archaeological importance and significance. The caves are filled with intricately and decorated sculptures and formations. If the beliefs are anything to go by, it is said that these caves were initially formed as a residence for Jain monks when King Kharavela ruled. The literal meaning of Udayagiri is sunrise hill and Kandhagiri means broken hill. They both have a total of 18 and 15 caves respectively. Out of which the Hathigumpha and Ganeshagumpha are well known and quite popular.
This is because of their beautiful sculptures which are considered as treasures. The Queen’s Palace which is also known as the Rani ka Naur has also been carved out neatly and embroidered with sculptural art. And if you have to talk of Khandagiri, it offers magnificent views of the Bhubaneswar from the top. The beauty, historic significance and the many inscriptions are the reason why you must visit these caves in Madhya Pradesh. This monument is open from sunrise till sunset and the entry fee for Indian citizens is Rs 5 per head. For foreigners, it will cost about Rs 100. Children below 15 years of age can enter without any fee.
6. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
Situated in Mumbai Harbour, the Elephant Caves are a group of beautifully and skillfully sculpted caves on the Elephanta Island. A ferry ride from the city of Mumbai is all it takes to reach here. The Elephant caves are popular for two different kinds- Hindu Caves and Buddhist Caves. There are a total of five Hindu caves and consists of rock cut stone sculptures that depict the Shavia which is in dedication to Shiva. Shaivisim is one of the most important parts of Hinduism where they believe Shiva to be the Supreme Being. These rock cut caves that are visited by people from all over is said to be dated back to the 5th and 8th century. Though it is still a debate as to who build these caves, it is said that these caves were painted in the past but now you can see only traces of these.
The main Cave of Elephant was a place of worship for Hindus until the Portuguese started ruling in 1534. This cave is also known as the Shiva Cave or Cave One that has a hall with four doors that serve as an entrance. Usually the entrance of a Shiva temple is east-west but in this cave it has a north-south axis. During this period, the caves were damaged and destroyed and was later restored in 1970s.
After the restoration work was done, to preserve the beauty of these caves and this treasure, the UNESCO included it in its list of the World Heritage Site. Currently it is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and the artwork has been taken care of pretty well. The layout of the walls has many depictions. Ravana lifting the Kailash, Trimurti, Shiva and Parvati on Kailash , Wedding of Shiva , Shiva slaying Andhaka, Linga , Nataraja , Ganesha and several others are the carving that you can see on the walls. These carvings have been sculpted with much finesse by artisans.
7. Badami Caves, Karnataka
The Badami caves in Karnataka are situated in Badami which is a small town in Bagalkot district. It is a big compound that has many cave temples that are all made out of Badami sandstone on a hill in 6th and 7th centuries. Badami caves are a total of four caves and to know how stunning it is you must visit this tourist attraction. A perfect representation of the Indian rocK cut architecture and also the Badami Chalukya architecture, Badami caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hence is protected from any kind of damage that can occur. The Badami cave temples also depict some of the best Hind temples. The designs on these caves as per UNESCO is said to have transformed the Malaprabha River valley into a structure of temple architecture. Caves 1 to 4 have been numbered as per their creation and Cave 3 is said to have been built in dedication to Vishnu. Cave 3 also depicts the earliest evidences of fresco painting Indian art. The paintings on the ceiling are however now a little broken and not clearly visible.
The architecture is an inspiration from the Nagara and Dravidian style and each cave has a mandap, beautiful pillars, a majestic verandah and a sanctorum. They also have exquisite carvings and murals with a natural cave which was a Buddhist temple.
Cave 4 was built as a respect to Jainism and among all the other caves is the most recently constructed and is situated at the top. If you love taking photographs of ancient sculptures, then you should visit the Badami caves especially if you visit at 6 in the morning or 5 in the evenings, you can get some really brilliant pictures. This place has also been seen in Bollywood movie- Rowdy Rathore.
8. Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Renowned for its monumental caves is the Ellora caves in Maharashtra approximately 29 km from Aurangabad. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are total 34 caves that have been excavated from the Charanandri hills. You will find Budhhist , Jain and Hindu rock cut temples here along with some really beautiful viharas that were built in the 5th and 10th century. With 17 Hindu caves, 12 Buddhist caves and 5 Jain caves, there is a lot that you can see here. Protected under the Archaeological Survey of India, it also depicts the harmony shared between different faiths and religion during that period.
These stunning caves were built during the rule of Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties and the Jain cave temples were built by the Rashtrakuta. The most popular among all the caves is Cave 32 which is the Indra Sabha , a smaller version of the Kailash temple. The top floor has carvings done elaborately with a charming lotus flower on the ceiling. You will also see carvings of Gomatesvara meditating in the forest. If you want to visit Ellora Caves, you can visit on any day except for Tuesday and it is open from 7 am to 6 pm. You have to pay an entry fees to explore these caves- Rs 10 for an Indian adult and Rs 250 for a foreigner.
9. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
Located near Jalgaon in Maharashtra, the Ajanta caves have 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves that date back to the 2nd century BCE. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, these caves have many sculptures and beautiful paintings which are also one of the greatest examples of Indian art and paintings that were inspired by the religious art of Buddhists. You will also find depictions of Jataka Tales which will instantly take you back to your childhood days. The Ajanta caves made its way to the UNESCO in 1983 and along with the Ellora caves; this is one of the major tourist attractions of Maharashtra.
History and culture enthusiasts will definitely love a trip to this place. It is believed that many Buddhist monks had spent some quality time here during the rainy season. Buddhist monks are usually not allowed to travel during the monsoon and hence they took shelter here before they again set out. During their stay in Ajanta, they made the most of their time and put their creativity to maximum use by painting the walls. It was also discovered during the study of these caves that one part of the complex was constructed during the Satvahan period and one during the Vakataka period.
In 1819, John Smith happened to witness the horse shoe shapes rock while he was on a hunting expedition around the Deccan Plateau. The entrance of this cave intrigues John so much that he explored further and crossed the Waghora river which eventually led him to the caves. In no time, the caves were excavated by archaeological experts and the news of a beautiful discovery spread like wild fire making it an instant attraction among many European travelers.
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Another very fascinating fact is that Buddha was never in favor of paintings and carving done on caves. It always believed that life must be lived with no desires of any sorts. However after he passed away, his followers wanted to worship and that is how so many Buddhist monasteries, Buddhist sculptures and carvings came into existence. And this is how the teachings of Buddha were spread across countries. The entrance of the Ajanta cave is sure to leave you in awe thanks to the majestic Buddha statue. Though these caves are said to be 2000 years old, it is said that the statues of Buddha were added some 600 years later. You must visit the Ajanta caves to understand the historical significance closely.
10. Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir
One of the most popular cave temples in India is the Vaishno Devi which is the holiest Hindu temples revered and worshiped by millions. Vaishno Devi who is also known as Mata Rani is an expression of Mahalakshmi. In India mother is commonly called as ma or mata hence this is one word that is most commonly used while addressing Vaishno Devi. Located in Katra at Trikuta Mountains in Jammu Kashmir, this shrine sees millions of pilgrims every year. Since it is inside a cave, this is one of the most beautiful caves of India. The sanctum here is situated at an height of 5300 feet above sea level and the idol of the main deity is a stone structure that also represents three goddesses- Saraswati, Kali and Lakshmi. All these three deities symbolize creativity, preservative and destructive features of the Mother.
Your trip to Vaishno Devi is also going to be a scenic one since you will be trailing amidst hills and beautiful landscapes. While walking on your way to the temple make sure you walk only on paved path and do not take halts at spots where you see warning signs. This is where you can enjoy nature in its best and also know a lot more about India’s cultural and historical beliefs. On your way back from the temple you can also carry the water that is collected on the feet of the deity.
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