Caves
In India Cave architecture has a long history. They were previously used as dwellings by prehistoric people , sheltering during the rainy season and the extreme heat of summer.
Later , as technology and human resources increased , caves began to be used for other purposes , for example as hunting lodges by royal families and as places of worship by Hindu , Buddhist, and Jain monks. A state-wise list of caves is given below :
Andhra Pradesh
Belum Caves ( Bellam Guhalu ) - Located in Kurnool district. It is the second longest cave in India. It is known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Undavalli Caves – It is located in Guntur district.
Borra Caves - Located in the Ananthagiri Hills of the Araku Valley near Visakhapatnam. They were formed by the flow of the Gosthani River over limestone deposits. The caves feature impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Other caves - Bojnanakonda and Lingalakonda Caves , Guntupalli Buddhist Caves , Mogalrajapuram Caves , etc.
Assam
Jogighopa Caves - The best example of Salasthambha period architecture are the remains of five rock-cut caves at Jogighopa on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Bongaigaon district.
Umachal Rock Cave – This is a 5th century rock cave with inscriptions discovered in Kalipur ( Guwahati ) .
Bihar
Barabar Hill Caves - The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. Located in the Gaya district, they comprise four caves : Karna Chaupar , Sudama Cave , Lomas Rishi Cave , and Vishwamitra ( Vishwa Jopari ) Cave. Built by Emperor Ashoka for the use of Ajivika ascetics , they were later used by Buddhist monks.
Nagargunja Caves (3 caves ) – Built during the time of Dasharatha ( grandson of Ashoka ) . It includes Gopi Cave , Bahyaka Cave, and Vedantika Cave.
Saptaparni Caves – This is a Buddhist cave located in Rajgir. The first Buddhist council was held at this place.
Dungeshwari Caves - Located in the Gaya district, they are also known as the Mahakal Caves or Sujata Sthan. It is believed that Lord Buddha meditated here before continuing his journey to Bodh Gaya.
Chhattisgarh
Jogimara and Sitabenga Caves – It is located in the Ramgarh Hills in Surguja district.
Kotamsar Caves - This is a limestone cave formed in the Kanger Limestone Belt , located near the banks of the Kanger River, a tributary of the Kolab River. It is located in the Kanger Valley National Park.
Other Caves - Kailash Caves , Singhanpur Caves , Bhangra Caves , Kabra Caves etc.
Gujarat
Junagadh Caves - It consists of three sites: Khapra Kodia , Baba Pyare, and Uparkot. The presence of a 30-50 feet high tower in front of the prayer hall, known as the " Uparkot , " is a distinctive feature of the Junagadh Caves.
Other caves - Dhank Caves , Kadia Dungar Caves , Khambhalida Caves , Sana Caves , Siot Caves , Talaja Caves etc.
Himachal Pradesh
Tabo Caves – This was a meditation retreat for Buddhist monks. Buddhist monks still use the caves for meditation during the winter months.
Other caves - Arjun Cave , Shringi Rishi Caves , Trilokpur Caves etc.
Jammu and Kashmir
Amarnath Cave – This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located at an altitude of 12,756 feet, the cave is famous for the Amarnath Yatra, which is visited by Hindu devotees.
Gufkral - Meaning " potter's cave ." It is a Neolithic site.
Other Caves - Bumzuwa Caves , Vaishno Devi Caves , Kalaroos Caves , Bumzuwa Caves etc.
Karnataka
Badami Caves - These are three Hindu caves and one in the city of Badami ( the capital of the Chalukyas ) . It is a complex of Jain cave temples.
Nellitheertha Cave – It is located in Dakshina Kannada , and is dedicated to Lord Shiva , also known as Sri Somanatheshwara.
Other caves - Satre Limestone Caves ( on the Karnataka - Goa border ), Gavipuram Cave Temple , Narasimha Jharni Cave Temple etc.
Kerala
Edakkal Caves - Located near the Ambukuthi Hills in Wayanad district, it is a prehistoric cave , and one of the oldest human settlements discovered so far.
Other caves - Kaviyoor , Kottukkal , Nedumala , Punarjani Guha etc.
Madhya Pradesh
Bhimbetka Caves - Located in the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, they were discovered by Dr. V.S. Wakankar in 1957-58. They were recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2003. They are famous for their prehistoric paintings.
Adamgarh Caves - Located on the banks of the Narmada River in Hoshangabad district, they were discovered by Manoranjan Ghosh and are famous for their prehistoric paintings.
Udayagiri Caves – Built by the Gupta king Chandragupta II, it is dedicated to Jainism and all other Hindu religions.
Bagh Caves – It is situated on the banks of Baghini River.
Bandhavgarh Caves - Located in the Bandhavgarh National Park, they belong to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
Shankaracharya Cave – Also known as Shri Govinda Bhagavatpada Cave , it is located near the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple.
Other Caves - Ambadevi Caves , Lohani Caves , Pachmarhi Caves , Bharat Nir Cave , Mrigendra Nath Caves , Kajal Rani Caves etc.
Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves - This is a Buddhist cave complex consisting of 25 viharas and 4 chaityas. Located in the Western Ghats on the banks of the Waghora River near Aurangabad district. It is famous for its fresco paintings of Padmapani , Maya Devi, etc. It flourished between 200 BCE and 650 CE . The Ajanta Caves were patronized by the Vakataka kings - Harishena and others. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 .
Ellora Caves It is a group of 34 caves — 17 Brahmanical , 12 Buddhist, and 5 Jain. It is located in the Western Ghats, about 100 kilometers from the Ajanta Caves. It was developed during the 5th century AD .
and the 11th century. It is famous for Vishwakarma Cave ( Carpenter's Cave ), Ravana's Trench , Dashavatara Cave , Kailash Temple ( built under the patronage of Rashtrakuta emperor Krishna I ), Ravana shaking Mount Kailash, etc. Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 .
Elephanta Caves ( Gharapuri Caves ) - Located in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it was discovered in 1987 . It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kanheri Caves – Located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park ( Mumbai ) , they belong to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
Jogeshwari Caves – It is located near Mumbai and is dedicated to Brahmanical and Mahayana Buddhism.
Mandapeshwar Caves – Located in Mumbai, this was a Brahminical cave that was converted into a Christian shrine.
Karla Caves – It is located on the Banghata Hills near Mumbai and is dedicated to Hinayana Buddhism.
Bhaja Caves – It is located in Pune district and is dedicated to Hinayana Buddhism.
Other Caves - Ambivali Caves , Aurangabad Caves , Bedse Caves , Bahrot Caves ( Zoroastrian or Parsi Cave ), Agashiva Caves , Nasik Caves , Pandavleni Caves , Pataleshwar Caves , Mahakali Caves etc.
Meghalaya
Krem Puri Cave – It is the longest sandstone cave in the world.
Krem Liat Prah - Umiam - Labit Cave - Located in the Jaintia Hills, it is the longest limestone cave in India.
Other caves - Mawsmai Caves , Siju Cave , Krem Tingheng Diengjem , Krem Sreik ( Tangnub ), Krem Limput Nongjri , Krem Iawe.
Odisha
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves – Located near Bhubaneswar, these were built under the patronage of the Kalinga king Kharavela. They were the residence of Jain monks. They are the site of the Hathigumpha inscription.
It is famous for its inscriptions inscribed in the Brahmi script.
Ratnagiri Caves – Located in the Jajpur district , often known as the " Hill of Jewels , " the site is located on an isolated hill in the Asia Range between the Birupa and Brahmani rivers.
Lalitgiri Caves - This is a Buddhist cave which shows the cultural continuity without any break from the post-Mauryan period till the 13th century AD .
Udayagiri , Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri are collectively known as the ' Diamond Triangle ' of Odisha.
Other caves - Gupteshwar Cave , Bikramkhol ( Vikramkhol ) Cave etc.
Tamil Nadu
Varaha Cave Temple - Also known as Varaha Mandapa or Adivaraha Cave, it is located in Mahabalipuram on the Coromandel Coast ( Bay of Bengal ) . It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built during the reign of Narasimhavarman I Mahamalla ( a Pallava king ) .
Sittanavasal Caves ( Arivar Koli ) - Located on the banks of the Krishna River in Pudukkottai district, they are dedicated to Jainism. They were built by the Pallava king Mahendravarman. They are famous for their paintings depicting Jainism.
Aramamalai Cave - It was used as a resting place for Jain saints. It is famous for the mural stories of the ' Asthik Palkas ' .
Other caves - Trichy Caves , Trimurti Caves , Kongana Siddha Caves , Kukkal Caves , Pancha Pandava Caves , Mahishasuramardini Caves , Vallimalai Jain Caves and Gudiyam Caves.
Rajasthan
Binnayaga Buddhist Caves – also known as Vinayaka or Vinayaga , are located in Binnayaga village in Jhalawar district.
Hathiagor Buddhist Caves - The caves are located on a hill called Hathiagor Ki Pahari . A stupa is located near the caves.
Kolvi Caves - Located in Kolvi village in Jhalawar district, they were carved into a hillside of laterite rock. This Buddhist site includes stupas and chaityas, each containing Buddha figures.
Uttarakhand
Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave – Located in Pithoragarh district, it is a limestone cave . Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Koteshwar Caves - They hold great religious significance and are believed to be the meditation site of Lord Shiva. Located in Rudraprayag, these caves are renowned as Hindu pilgrimage sites .
Lakhudiyar Cave – It is located on the banks of the Suyal River in Almora.
Uttar Pradesh
Muchkund Cave ( Lalitpur ) - These natural caves are located in the valley of the Betwa River. It is believed that the famous saint Muchkund lived here and practiced penance.
West Bengal
Mahakal Caves – Located in Jayanti village within the Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district, it is a stalactite cave dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Laljal Cave ( Jagram District ): This site bears witness to an ancient civilization. Some fossils unearthed during archaeological excavations here are preserved in a museum.
