Historical Journey through the Top Caves of India

Caves are certainly marked as evidence of a place’s real history, its indigenous people, and its then culture and traditions. India is a land where you will find an array of unique cultures dotted with a huge number of caves. In fact, right from Kashmir to Trichy and from Maharashtra to Manipur, you will get to see unique rock caves exquisite sited on the hilltops. Thus, cave exploration is one of the major attractions for travelers from all over the world who come here to explore the mystical essence of these ancient caves. If you are planning an India visit, check out the cheapest domestic flights in India online and save on travel costs. Some caves offer extreme adventure and mystery whilst some provide culture and spirituality. Here, I have listed the top caves of India that you must pay a visit to while you stay in India.

Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra

Ajanta caves

A popular UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected as well as maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ajanta Caves are located in the state of Maharashtra. This major heritage monument of Aurangabad district consists of a total of 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.

Stone Elephants Ajanta Caves

The paintings, which are apparently the masterpieces of Buddhist religious art with beautiful figures of the Buddha and depictions of the Jataka tales, are described as the finest surviving examples of Indian art, especially painting by the ASI.

Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Elephanta Island Caves

Situated at a distance of 26 km north of Aurangabad, Ellora is an archaeological site that comprises ancient cave temples and monasteries. Excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, the cave complex contains a total of 34 caves consisting of Buddhist Chaityas, Viharas, monasteries, Hindu temples, and Jain temples, which were built between the 5th century and 10th century. Counted as an ancient site displaying religious harmony at that time, Ellora Caves are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected under the ASI.

Elephanta Island Caves, Maharashtra

Elephanta Island Caves

Located on a small island, at a distance of just 9 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India, Elephanta Island Caves are 7th-century monuments. This exquisite rock-cut cave temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the major highlights of these seven caves is the stunning and gigantic sculpted panels. These beautiful panels display the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. In order to have access to these caves, one needs to get a ferry ride from the Gateway of India.

Badami Caves, Karnataka

Badami Caves

Located at Badami, a town in the Bagalkot District in the state of Karnataka, Badami Caves is a complex of temples. An excellent example of rock-cut architecture, typically the Badami Chalukya Architecture, the complex contains four caves including one dedicated to Lord Shiva, two to Lord Vishnu, and the remaining smaller one is an ancient Jain cave temple.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves

An exquisite excursion site to the Bhubaneshwar, the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri are dotted with ancient caves. Udayagiri (Sunrise Hill) has the most interesting caves carved as per the Jain aesthetics. The highlights of the Udayagiri caves include Tiger Cave and the largest, revealing Queen’s Palace Cave (with ruins of Jain symbols and battle scenes). On the other hand, Khandagiri is situated across the road and is known for its outstanding views of the city and a few caves.