Bhimashankar Buddhist Caves - Archaeological site in Junnar, Agar - Pune, India

2300 year old Buddhist caves. However the image inside is surely mutilated to the extent of modification to the original. Seems like a Jain statue in Padmasana. The arches and the rock cut pillars look like Petra. There are many huge beehives here. Just 1km away from Junnar caves, one can walk along the same ledge and can come down at the entrance near the brick kiln, by another path

Difficult to reach there without help. Please do not go alone. There is wildlife, I think, leopard in the forest. Once there, please do not make noise at all because there are bee hives. The caves belong the the First Period of the Buddhist rock cut architecture in India, c.250 BCE - c.325 CE (vide, Singh, Rajesh Kumar. Periodization of the Rock cut architecture of India, 2020). There is a cetiyaghara (Buddhist temple). It is apsidal and vaulted. The temple was abandoned before completion because of terrible geological flaws in the rock that created water seapage inside the temple. Prior to this temple, it seems, the adjoining matapas (Prakrit for mandapas in Sanskrit and halls in English) and lenas (Prakrit for layanas in Sanskrit and dormitories in English) were already excavated because they have doorways that have extant sockets for door hinges, which are evidence that the caves were in use. It's interesting that the matapas and lenas were being used even while the temple itself was never completed and worshipped. It says a little bit about the monastic life at this ancient monastic complex.

It's very beautiful and full of nature place Cool place for meditation . About 2200 years before this was carved. Money contributed by local people and traders who used to came from naneghat for trading.

Very nice..Thrilling adventure...You can see that caves from road..Not proper way to go there so better to go bhimashankar from ambika caves...Ambika caves has very good way ..There is a symbol fir your guidance just nearby road..I have uploaded some pics refer this before go there. And google location are exact but still better to ask first to local people .... Note:This is 2000 years old buddhist caves but till date caves being completely ruined by superstitious people for there mythological god..

The Junnar region in Maharashtra has the largest number of rock-cut caves in India, numbering over 200 independent excavations and spread over the four hills. All the caves here belong to the Hinayana phase and are datable from mid 3rd century B.C. to late 3rd century A.D. The presence of so many rock cut excavations with a large number of associated inscriptions (enabling paleographical study) makes Junnar a prominent site for the study of rock cut architecture in India. Junnar group of caves are classified into various sub-groups depending upon the location of these excavations. Access to the Bhimashankar Caves only seems possible via a path that runs south (to the left) of Amba-Ambika caves and traverses the hillside. Although these caves are clearly visible from the Junnar-Vadaj road, I don't believe there is an easier way to successfully access them other than by this route. As you walk along the side of the hill, you'll encounter numerous simple cell excavations which will indicate you're getting close to the main Bhimashankar Caves, which sit a little higher up from the path you're on.

Lesser known and ultra peaceful caves. A Must visit for all archeology lovers

It was good experience really enjoyed ,,thrilling adventure..Very difficult to reach there better to ask someone for proper guidance..

Easy trail. Very nice historical architecture.