Caving in India can be an extremely delightful experience, considering the quantity of caves one can discover here. Each state has various caverns worth exploring. There is the right blend of history, deep sense of being, unsolved mysteries, and adventure if you set out for a cave expedition. For history buffs, and those with a mysterious bent of mind, trailing through the various cave sites in India can be a thought provoking as well as cherishable experience for life. So unleash the archaeologist in you, and get a hollowed insight into the depths of Indian history.
Here are some of the most gorgeous, mind boggling, as well as mysterious caves you can find in India. Prepare a to-do list, and keep marking these off!
- Elephanta Caves, Mumbai
Elephanta Caves is a famous tourist spot in Mumbai. These antiquated caverns are amongst the most well known caves in India and are located 7 kms away from the city of Mumbai. Remember, although you have arrived in Mumbai in one of those Lucknow to Mumbai flights, but to reach the Elephanta Caves, you’d be required to take a ferry ride. There are around seven rock-cut caves that have been tastefully cut and date back to the sixth and the seventh century A.D. The primary fascination in the cavern is the Mahesh-murti which portrays Lord Shiva in three forms.
2. Tabo, Himachal Pradesh
At Tabo in Himachal Pradesh, you can explore spiritually vibrant caves which offer the visitors an opportunity for some self-reflection and meditate. Located in the ethereal Spiti Valley, the town of Tabo is dabbed with numerous caves that help the local Buddhist lamas to meditate calmly, by offering a quiet a tranquil ambience. Here, you can explore a considerable number of little and huge caverns, as the mountains house a large number of them, attracting numerous visitors yearly.
3. Badami Caves, Karnataka
The delightful cave temples are situated at Badami in Karnataka. These are out of four caves, out of which two are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, One to Lord Shiva and one to the Jain gods. The finely cut cave structure in Badami is pretty famous for its red sandstone, located on the incline of a hill slope. It is one of the best Indian rock-cut designs.
4. Khandagiri Caves, Odisha
The Khandagiri caves are located at a short distance from Bhubaneshwar and are known to be the most punctual Jain rock-cut havens. These are one of the most antiquated caves in India that were utilized by the Jain friars amid the leadership of King Kharavela. These caverns sit above the city of Bhubaneswar, providing a stunning vista of the city from its summit. The Ananta cave is amongst the most famous caves in Khandagiri and has the cut figures of elephants, women, enemies and geese carrying flowers.
5. Varaha Cave, Mahabalipuram
The Varaha cavern or the Boar cave can be found in Mahabalipuram, close to the Coromandel Coast of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is a sanctuary of one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, “Varaha”. The stone cut cavern temple is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the significant fascinations of Tamil Nadu, along with the different caves of Narthamalai and Sittanavasal.
So pack the required equipments, especially a camera, and set out trailing through these awe-inspiring cave sites in India. The more you dig in, the more you get. Happy Caving!