Located about 7 km from 

Mumbai on an
Situated in the Jalgaon city of Maharashtra, island, Elephanta caves  can only be reached by In Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, Mawsmai Caves are
the Ajanta and Ellora caves  are one of the most ferry. There are seven rock-cut caves there that natural limestone caves. Located near the beautiful
well-known caves in India. The rock-cut caves have been finely carved and designed. Dating back Nohsngithiang falls, Mawsmai caves are popular
contain ancient religious paintings and sculptures. to 6th century A.D, the primary attraction in the among tourists visiting Meghalaya. The natural
There are 34 caves at Ellora that date back to the cave is the Mahesh-murti depicting Lord Shiva in formations appear like large passages and
6th and 11th centuries AD and there are 29 caves three forms- the aghora, tatpurusha and vamadeva. chambers. Some caves have giant openings while
at Ajanta that date back to the 2nd century BC and in some tourists have to crawl through.
6th century AD. The caves at the Ajanta are
dedicated to Buddhism while the caves at Ellora
display a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
This is one of the most famous caves in India.

Bhimbetka Caves are situated inside Ratapani The Amarnath cave is located in Jammu and
Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Recognized Kashmir and is one of the most famous Hindu
as a world heritage site, these caves display the shrines. The shrine is dedicated to the God Shiva,
earliest artworks of mankind. It is believed to be the claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an Jogimara & Sitabena Caves are situated in the
shelter of Pandavas during the time of their exile important part of ancient Hindu mythology. The dense forests of Chhattisgarh. The caves can be
making it one of the important caves in India. cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters and accessed through a natural tunnel known as
about 141 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu Hathipol, the name pointing out that even elephants
and Kashmir. The main Amarnath cave has an ice are able to pass through the tunnel. Legend has it
stalagmite that resembles the Shiva Linga which that Rama, Sita, and Lakshman spent their days
changes expands and contracts with the cycle of here during their exile. The caves are filled with
the Moon. According to Hindu mythology, this is the ancient paintings and inscription s.
cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and
eternity to his divine consort Parvati.

In the Anatagiri Hills of the Araku

Located on the bank of Baghani river at the valley in Visakhapatnam, stand the Borra Caves .
Vindhyachal ranges in Madhya Pradesh, Bagh The presence of a naturally formed Shiva Lingam Dungeshwari caves are located at about 12 km
Caves are a set of nine rock-cut structures. The here makes these caves venerable by the tribal from Bodhgaya in Bihar. These caves are
caves are well sought after for their ancient people inhabiting the villages around the caves. significant in Buddhism as it is believed that
paintings and thus are also called as Rang Mahal. Spread across an area of 1 square km, Borra Buddha meditated here. A golden statue of Buddha,
These rock cut caves are the finest example of Caves are full of stalagmite and stalactite another giant statue of Buddha and an idol of Hindu
ancient Indian art. It is believed that these caves formations. goddess Dungeshwari are present in inside the
were built by Buddhist monk Dataka in late 4th three caves of Dungeshwari.
century - 6th century AD.

About 8 km from the city of Vijayawada in Andhra

Located in Karnataka, the Badami caves comprise Pradesh, Undavalli Caves  are situated on the Near Tabo  village in Himachal Pradesh, these
of four caves out which two are dedicated to Lord banks of River Krishna. The caves are said to be caves are carved out of hills and are believed to
Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and another one to built by the Vishnukundin Kings and in 7th century have been the place of meditation for Buddhist
Jains. Made of red sandstone on the precipice of a AD. The ancient caves are believed to be carved monks. There are few big caves along with small
hill, Badami Caves are one of the most exemplary out of solid sandstone and are dedicated to caves which are dotted with colourful prayer flags.
examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. The Anantapadmanabha Swamy and Narasimha The Buddhist monks still use the caves for
Indian caves date back to 6th century AD. Swamy. Out of many cave structures found here, meditation during the months of winter.
the best one has four stories having a giant statue
of Lord Vishnu in reclining position.
 Nearby Bhubaneshwar is a group of 15 caves
known as Khandagiri Caves . These are one of the
The ancient Udayagiri caves are situated Named after an incarnation of Lord Vishnu- earliest Jain rock-cut structures and are believed to
near Bhubaneswar in the state of Odisha. The "Varaha", these caves serve as the temple to Lord be used by Jain monks during the rule of King
Udayagiri caves are famous for 33 rock-cut Vishnu. The rock-cut cave temple is known for its Kharavela. The Ananta Cave is the most prominent
chambers displaying Hindu and Jain sculptures and glorious architecture and is listed as a UNESCO one in Khandagiri and has figures of women,
wall paintings. The history of these caves dates World Heritage site. Varaha caves are located elephants and athletes carved on its walls.
back to the Gupta Period around 350-550 CE, an in Tamil Nadu.
era of foundation of Hindu religious ideas. The most
famous structure at Udayagiri Cave is a 5 feet tall
statue of Vishnu's Boar Avatar with the worshipful
masses standing in homage by the sides. 

Similar to the caves of Ellora, Pataleshwar

Caves  are situated in Pune. Dating back to 8th Located near the famous hill station of Lonavala in Situated inside the Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort
century AD and dedicated to Lord Shiva, the caves Maharashtra, the Karla caves  are among the most complex, Trichi Caves are a set of two cave
are carved out of a single rock and are ancient Buddhist temples in India, dating back to temples, known as the lower cave temple and the
architecturally flawless. Sculptures of Ram, Sita 200 BC. The Karla Caves are also the largest upper cave temple. Believed to be built by the
and Laxman can be found here. Buddhist temples in India and are recognized for Pallavas, Cholas and Nayaks of Madurai, these
their rock-cut architecture which resembles wooden cave temples are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.
structure. Prominent features of the caves are
arched entrances, vaulted interiors and an Ashokan
Pillar at the front.

Present in Bhubaneswar village in

Uttarakhand, Patal Bhubaneshwar Caves  are
Located in the Sittanavasal village in Pudukottai believed to be founded by King Rituparna in Treta
Koteshwar caves hold great religious significance Yuga. According to Hindu mythology, there were
district of Tamil Nadu, Sittanavasal caves are also
and are believed to be the meditation place for Lord four doors to enter the cave; Randwar, Paapdwar,
known as Arivar Koli and date back to the 7th
Shiva. Located about 3 km from Rudraprayag in Dharamdwar and Mokshadwar. Paapdwar got
century. The caves are famous for their various
Uttarakhand, these caves are famous Hindu closed after the death of Ravana and Randwar got
paintings such as a pond with lotus flowers, people
pilgrimage site. closed after the battle of Mahabharata. Only two
collecting lotuses from the pond, two dancing
figures, lilies, fish, geese, buffaloes and elephants. entrances remain open now.

Krem Kotsati is a part of the Kotsati - Umlawan

Barabar caves are one of the oldest caves in India.
Situated in the Jaintia Hills district of the State of Cave system . Krem Kotsati has claimed to be the
These caves are rock-cut. Dating back to the time
Meghalaya, Tucked in the folds of the Shnongrim second longest cave system in India measuring
of the Maurya Empire (322BC-185BC), These
Ridge, Krem Liat Prah is the longest natural cave about 21 Kms and has a total of 8 entrances. One
caves are located between the Barabar and
in India. It is one among the 150 caves known of its entrances is through a deep pool which
Nagarjuni hills in Bela Ganj Block of Gaya district,
caves of the ridge and parts of it still remain requires the explorers to swim to enter the cave.
Bihar. There a total of four caves in this collection
unexplored. The cave has been estimated to be The Cave majorly consists of some virgin river
named as Lomas Rishi Cave, Sudama Cave, Karan
about 34 kilometres long and continues to extend passages. It is said that no part of the cave is more
Chaupar and Visva Zopri. All the caves have such
with the ongoing surveys. than one hour away from the nearest entrance.
impressively sharp cuts that they can be compared
with the laser cutting techniques of today. Another
speciality of the caves is the echo that excites
everyone.

Kutumsar Caves are located in the Kanger Valley

The second largest natural caves in the Indian National Park of Bastar, Chattisgarh. The striking Nellitheertha , a 200-meter long cave is a religious
subcontinent, Belum Caves have a length of 3229 Stalagmites and Stalactites formed in the due temple cave which is formed naturally. The cave is
 meters and the deepest point at 120 feet below the course of time are the main attractions of the located in the Dakshina Kannada district of
entry level. Situated in the Belum Village of Kurnool caves. The cave houses 5 naturally formed Karnataka. There is a Shiva Lingam inside the cave
District, Andhra Pradesh. This site is at a distance chambers and a couple of wells too. The cave is along with a lake which is formed by water dripping
of 270 Kms from Bangalore. The Caves were 1327 meters long and is dark as no sunlight enters into the cave. The droplets take the shape of a
formed due to the erosion of the limestone deposits the cave. Ironically it is a must-see for all those Gooseberry right before dropping down. ‘Nelli’ is a
by the Chitravati River and have long and spacious who love the wild side of nature. Kannada word that translates to Gooseberry and
chambers, Siphons and Freshwater sources. The ‘Teertha’ means ‘holy water’. Hence the cave gets
caves claim to have been occupied by Buddhist the name Nelliteertha.
monks according to the relics discovered in the
area which are now housed in the Museum at
Anantapur.
Kanheri caves

Bhaja Buddha caves

Karla Caves

Elephanta Caves