The Five Most Famous Caves of India
What could be interesting about dark and damp caves? Well, India will argue against it. India holds many iconic caves of the world. When it comes to the artisan ship of the country, the art fever did not leave a few caves, empty. Well, let us get to the five famous caves of the country.
1. Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Located in Maharashtra, they are the most famous caves of all time. Although mentioned together, they are two different set of caves, located in different locations. Both are heritage sites of the world. They possess many massive temples of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, made by monks with basic tools. Ajanta caves holds 29 caves with numerous cave temples, built between 2nd century and 6th century AD. Ellora caves holds 34 caves with numerous temples and monuments, built during 6th AD to 11th AD. These caves are famous for their architectural beauty, sculptures and uniqueness.
Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
Suggested tour packages for this attraction are:
How to reach?
The nearest city to the caves is Aurangabad. It is 100 km away from Ajanta and 30 km away from Ellora. You can find government buses and private cabs from the city to the caves. If you are choosing rail, the nearest railway station is Jalgaon Station. From there, you can first head to Ellora and then to Ajanta, by road transportation.
Top activities to enjoy
- Sightseeing
- Photography
- Caving
- Heritage tour
Read also: Travel Guide to Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh
2. Elephanta Caves, Mumbai
This is a similar cave located in the Elephanta Island, on the Arabian Sea, close to Mumbai. The island gets its name from a massive elephant statue, which is now in a museum in Mumbai mainland. The caves are famous for pilgrimage visit, cave exploration and photography. You can find numerous caves spread in this island. Many caves hold temples of Lord Shiva. For tourism purpose, the place is separated into east wing and west wing.
Elephanta Caves, Mumbai
Top tour packages suggested for this attraction are:
How to reach?
From the Gateway of India, you can find government ferries to the island. It would take an hour to reach the island. Once you reach the island, you need to walk towards the caves. To reach the top, it would take 120 steps.
Top activities to enjoy
- Sightseeing
- Photography
- Exploration
- Heritage tour
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Suggest tour packages are:
3. Badami Caves, Karnataka
Of all the historic ruins of Karnataka, Badami is an exclusive one. Those who love architecture would love the ancient Badami hills. The cave dates back to 6th century AD. It is a collection of four main caves. Three of those are Brahminical structures with temples and the fourth one has a Jain temple. The caves hold many sculptures of Hindu gods, Jain Tirthankaras and Mahavira. Among the three Hindu caves, one is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the rest are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Badami Caves, Karnataka
Top tour packages covering Badami caves are:
How to reach?
Badami is located 106 km away from Hubli, which holds the nearest airport. You can find taxis and buses from numerous parts of Karantaka to Badami. The nearest railway station is located in Badami. From the railway station, you can find road transportation to reach the caves.
Top activities to enjoy
- Sightseeing
- Trekking
- Photography
- Caving
- Heritage tour
- Pilgrimage activities
Read also: 10 Most Popular Waterfalls in Karnataka, You Must Visit!
4. Borra Cave, Andhra Pradesh
Located in Andhra Pradesh, this cave is a natural wonder, aging for more than 150 million years. This cave is located a little away from Vishakapatnam and holds a naturally formed Shiva Linga. This natural deity is worshiped by the tribe communities around the cave. The sedimentation formation inside the cave creates many distinguished structures like human brain, crocodile, Shiva Parvathi, mother and child and so on. The best of all is the Shiva Linga and Kamadhenu cow.
Borra Cave, Andhra Pradesh
How to reach?
You can find train tours to Borra caves from Vishakapatnam and Araku Valley. The state also provides direct buses to the cave from many destinations. If you were planning to hire a cab, it would take four hours to reach the cave from Vishakaptanam.
Top activities to enjoy
- Sightseeing
- Visit to Katiki waterfalls
- Nature walk
- Photography
- Caving
- Heritage tour
- Visit to Shiva Temple
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These caves are located closer to Lonavala. Yet another distinctive cave of Maharashtra, this is an early specimen of Buddhist artwork, dating back to early 200 BC. The most interesting part of these caves are the wooden architectural styled decor. Yes, the rock-cut structures will resemble wooden structures. The best of all the caves of this group is Chaityagriha. It holds an arched entrance, Ashoka Pillar, vaulted décor and so on.
Karla Caves, Lonavala
How to reach?
From Lonavala, you can find numerous local buses and cabs to Karla. If you desired, you can hire auto from surrounding regions.
Top activities to enjoy
- Architectural sightseeing
- Photography
- Caving
- Heritage tour
- Pilgrimage activities
Other iconic caves of the land are Mawsmai Caves of Megalaya, Pataleshwa caves of Maharashtra, Khandagiri caves of Odisha, Undavalli caves of Andhra Pradesh and so on.
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