History, Importance, Timings, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Pandavleni caves or Nasik Caves, Nasik, Maharashtra, India
Pandavleni caves situated on the plateau of the Trivashmi hills and 8 km from Nashik city in Maharashtra are also known as Tirthankarleni cave, Pandu caves and Nashik caves as well. Pandavleni caves personify Hinayana Buddhism. This Buddhist rock cut cave complex has the group of 24 Buddhist caves dated back to 3rd century BC to 6th century AD and recently ASI has found out more three caves during cleansing process. These beautifully carved caves is one of the top tourist attraction of Nasik and lots of people visit here every day around the year.
The caves are heavily ornamented, with intricate unique carvings with Buddhist sculptures, valuable inscription which helps scholar in study even after 2000 year which makes this caves as significant group of early examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. You can also found the proper planning of water tank, pillar, carving etc. inside the caves.
Among these 24 caves, 3rd, 10th, 18th and 20th caves are must visit and very attractive caves. The 18th cave was essentially a shrine or a prayer hall and features a Stupa at one end. Most of the caves have the magnificent idols of Buddha and or the popular Jain Teerthankaras.
You can visit Pandavleni Caves around the year but the best time to visit these caves is from July to February and also you can plan for trekking.
Pandavleni caves are also known as Tirthankaleri. An extraordinary number of statues found of Hindu Lords like Rama and Lakshmana as well Jain Lords like Lord Neninath and Lord Neminath, so it represent Hindu and Jain architecture as well along with Buddhist.
The "Pandavleni" name has no relation with the characters Pandavas, great characters of Mahabharata. There are some other caves in the area includes Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves, Patan Cave and Bedse Caves.
The Pandavleni caves are also known as Pandu Caves and Triashmi Buddhist Caves. As seen from the village the rays of the sunlight appearing from the backside of the Caves because of this reason, the word ‘Tiranga’ is engraved in the cave the meaning of this word is ‘Rays of Sunlight’. Many kings who ruled on the Nashik had been sculptured and donated these Caves. Few caves are joined to other Caves bye stone-cut ladders, which is very complicated. It is also possible to crest the Trirashmi Caves by tracking, as its track is constructed with steps and it takes approximately 20 minutes.
These caves are a cluster of 24 caves. In that time some distinguished rulers had built the Pandavleni caves among all the 24 Caves couple of caves are well known for allurement. This is cave number 3 and 10. The construction and structure of these Caves catch the eyes of visitors. An epigraph about the king of Western Maharashtra has been in cave number 15. At the bottom of the Pandavleni caves there is the Dada Saheb phalke and displayed the work of dada Saheb. Visitors need to climb up approximately 200 steps to reach.
Entry Fee for adults is rs 20 and Children up to 15 years is Free. Free entry for adults and children on Fridays.
How to Reach Pandavleni Caves or Nasik Caves, Nasik, Maharashtra, India
Pandavleni caves are just 8 km from city center so you can get auto, cab or bus to reach here from each part of city. Nashik being one of the major city, district and major pilgrimage center of Maharashtra, India, thus it is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Ojhar Nashik International airport is located at just 24 kms away from the city. From where you can get flights to various cities like Delhi, Bengalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune etc. Nashik has major railway junction which quite important for the various key railway like like Mumbai to Kalyan or Delhi or Kolkata. Nashik is very well connected with all other cities of the country by roads through national highway or the state highway. The national highway of Mumbai-Agra passes via city Nashik and it is also well connected to city Pune with highway NH-50. Nashik is located at 170 km from Mumbai, 30 km from Ojhar, 30 km from Trimbak, 105 km from Malegaon, 210 km from Pune, 235 km from Surat, 135 km from Kalyan, 195 km from Aurangabad.
