The First Century Pandavleni Caves in Nashik

A visit to Nashik is not complete without a stop at its glorious 1st-century Pandavleni caves. These caves may be one of Nashik’s most strenuous tourist attractions, but each of the 200 stone stairs is worth ascending for the historical treasure hidden at the summit. When I initially arrived at the bottom of the mountain, I assumed this neighbourhood was home to three notable attractions. The Dadasaheb Phalke Memorial is the first stop, followed by the Trirashmi Buddha Vihar and eventually the Pandavleni Caves. 

On this trip, I opted to visit the Trirashmi Buddha Vihar and the Pandavleni Caves, all of which are linked with Buddhist royalty. It was a short silent visit to the Buddha Vihar, the Stupa. On the other hand, climbing to the summit of Pandavleni Caves was exhausting. I spotted numerous little stores set between the Stupa and the foot of the mountain as I headed towards the steps that lead to the caves. Bought a bottle of water and a cold drink from one of the stores, knowing that the long climb would make me thirsty.

I also observed a few street sellers selling fresh cucumbers, but I decided to reserve it for later. If you visit the caves in the summer, I recommend that you wear a hat when climbing. Attempting the ascent without sun protection would be foolish. Even though the sun was straight overhead, the light cast lovely tree leaf reflections on the steps. With brief photographic breaks, I trudged up the inalienable stairs on the gravel. 

During these stops, I also spotted a small group of locals and tourists who continued to climb with unwavering tenacity. I had to take numerous brief stops to read the cave descriptions along the way. The Maharashtra Tourism Board has placed manifold indications emphasising the importance of the caves. I finally arrived at the ancient 1st-century Buddhist Caves of Pandavleni after ascending 200 stone stairs.

I was allowed to walk past a high iron fence for a nominal admission fee of INR 15, ensuring formal admittance into the campus. With my eyes wide open, I was staring fixedly at the cave passage. These caverns were constructed in the first century but were subsequently rebuilt in the third century.

Until the sixth century, additional sculptures are said to have been added to the caverns. In any case, the collection of ancient meditational places exudes a therapeutic, tranquil, and relaxing aura. Although I was unable to visit all 24 caverns, I was able to travel through a few significant ones. Each of these caves carved out of rock signifies a shift in Buddhist devotional practises. The building is thought to represent Hinayana, Buddhism’s primary lineage in Asia, in this way.

Viharas (or monasteries), and Chaityas (or Buddhist shrines), are the two types of caves. Cave 18, in particular, is a shrine, whereas the majority of the other caves are monasteries. Intricate column work and ornate stone-cut ladders are shown in each cave. The columns show how Buddhism has progressed over time. However, the caverns were initially pitched by 1st-century Buddhist Royals and tradesmen who wished to express their support for the monks. Many sculptures and meditation rooms may be seen within these rock-cut monasteries.

Few caves are older than others, yet they all have the most incredible sculptural detail from the prehistoric era. Pandavleni caverns have rich imagery of Indo-Greek construction and water management, ranging from Buddha images to Bodhisattva ideals. People speculated for a long time if the name Pandavleni had anything to do with the Pandavas from the Mahabharat epic. NO. Instead, the name takes after the Greek term Trirashmi, which means sunrays or light coming from behind the Caves. The entire cave network is a unique sphere that will pull you into its tumultuous vortex.

I returned to the bottom of the mountain after a few hours at the cave to eat some farm-fresh cucumbers. There is no better way to end a cave tour than to eat some fresh cucumbers from a neighbouring farm. While eating the cucumbers, I struck up a discussion with the woman who was selling them. She talked less about the caves and more about the area’s agricultural development. Glad I learnt something new and came back with plenty of knowledge.

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