45 Caves to Explore in India

Ajanta caves are 30 rockcut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad. The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose and form. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.

A huge cave surrounded by the thick forest. The cave is known for its fossil formations, limestone structures, and stalagmite and stalactite formations which are believed to be millions of years old. It houses many narrow passages and chambers, as well as a stream that flows inside the cave.

Baba pyare caves are an example of ancient man-made caverns. The caves are a part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups situated in the eastern part of Junagadh of the Indian state of Gujarat. Bava Pyara caves contains artworks of both Buddhism and Jainism.

Considered as an example of Indian rock cut architecture .Calm and quiet place where we can explore and study about the ancient wonders of 6th centuries.

The Barabar Hill Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from the Maurya Empire, some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India, These caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar.

Belum Caves are the largest and longest cave system in India still open for the tourists. The second largest caves in India after the Krem Liat Prah in Meghalaya and famous for their unique formations such as stalactite and stalagmite formations, the caves were formed over a period of millions of years with the consequent formation of limestone.

Binnayaga Buddhist caves also known as Vinayaka are located at village Binnayaga in Jhalawar distrcit of Rajsthan. The excavation has arounnd 20 laterite caves facing south from east to west.

The Borra Caves are situated in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku valley in Vishakapatnam district. British geologist William King discovered this million years old cave in the year 1807 and it has been a tourist favorite ever since. Breathtaking hilly terrain, beautiful landscape, semi-evergreen moist deciduous forests, and wild fauna of the Borra Caves are a visual feast.

Buddhist Caves of Khapra Kodiya are part of the Junagadh Buddhist Cave Group. They are the oldest of the caves in the group. The caves, on the basis of scribbles and short cursive letters on the wall, are dated to 3rd-4th century BCE during the Emperor Ashoka’s rule and are the plainest of all the caves in the groups

This cave complex consists of two caves of which one is a temple cave and the other is an underground cave which is in the form of a pool. The temple consists of Lord Shiva statue and the statue of a goddess. The most interesting aspect is that the pool cave has an unidentified source of water and was probably used as a bathing pool in ancient times.

Chandravalli cave is a prehistoric site or cave which have a temple in semilunar shape.

Third highest concrete gravity dam in India which is 138 metre tall and is constructed as a part of Idukki hydroelectric project along with the two other dams at Idukki and Kulamavu. One of the main Picnic spot and viewpoint in Idukki

Dharashiv Caves are the nexus of 7 caves located 8 km away from Osmanabad. The caves were taken note by Archaeological Department of India and mentioned in the book Archaeological survey of India. It has been declared as a protected monument by the government.

Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located at Ambukuthy Mala (Ambukuthy Mountain) at Edakkal, 25KM from Kalpetta and 16KM from Sulthan Bathery in the Wayanad district of Kerala in Southern India. They lie in the Western Ghats Mountain ranges at 1,200 meters above sea level in an ancient trade route connecting Mysore to the ports of Malabar.

Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. They are on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged

One of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, featuring Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments, and artwork, dating from the 600–1000 CE period.

World Heritage site which is being a specimen of the great Chalukya architecture and also it was an exhibition of Dravidian as well as Indo Aryan style of architecture

Guna Cave is wonderful tourist spot in Kodaikanal on Moir Point road. The cave is formed between two large Pillar Rocks. It is one of the best tourist places to visit in kodaikanal. This large, dark and ancient cave is also called as Devil's Kitchen.

The rock-cut part of the site has two Buddhist caves, a chaitya hall and a large group of stupas. The chaitya hall has a rare carved stone entrance replicating wooden architecture, a simpler version of that at the Lomas Rishi Cave. There are remains of structural buildings in brick and stone, including remains of two vihara made of brick, as well as excavated caves at two levels, including an unusual structural chaitya hall.

It is a pilgrim site situated in the Koraput district of Odisha. A limestone cave is there and its main attraction is the gigantic Shivalinga which is said to be increasing in size. Pilgrims from all over the country come here during the Sravana period because the yearly Bol Bam yatra is held at this place. Devotees walk to the Gupteshwar during Bol Bam yatra to bath in the maha kund, and then chant near the Shiva Linga.