Pandav Caves
There are many ancient caves near Nashik, and one of them is Pandavleni Caves or Pandav Caves. Nashik Caves is another popular name for these caves. These caves were built somewhere around the 1st century and are among the oldest caves in Maharashtra. The site contains a group of 24 caves, of which one cave is the main cave. You will find a stupa prayer hall or Chaitya. There are inscriptions on rock, images, and sculptures in these caves. The inscriptions, sculptures, and carvings suggest that these caves were built by followers of Hinayana Buddhism.
The monks stayed in these caves and preached Buddhist sermons to the disciples. You will have to do a little trek to reach these caves. Pandavleni Caves were built on a hill called Trivashmi Hills. There are sculptures of Jain and Buddhist deities. Along with these, some carvings show the story of kings who ruled in those times. These were the kings from the various dynasties like Satavahanas, Abhirs and Kshatrapas. There are prayer halls and cells where the monks live and meditate. It is amazing to know that even after 2000 years of history, these caves are remarkably preserved.
You can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding areas from these caves. The trek to these caves is also an adventure in itself. It will take around 20 minutes to reach these caves via trek. These caves are a must-visit place for all who visit Nashik during the upcoming 2027 Kumbh Mela in Nashik.
Pandav Caves Quick Guide
It is no wonder that Nashik has many types of places ranging from religious to adventurous. You can choose the place you want to visit during the upcoming Nashik Kumbh 2027. Surely, every day of your Nashik tour will be a thrilling day. You can take a holy dip in the Godavari and then head off to visit these places. Sightseeing in Nashik will be as exciting as the Kumbh Mela experience. You can take rental cabs, or a Kumbh Mela tour package if you want a complete tour experience of Kumbh Mela and Nashik sightseeing.
- Address: Pandav Lene Road, Buddha Vihar, Pathardi Phata, Nashik, Maharashtra - 422010
- Distance from Nashik: 9 km
- Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
- Visiting time: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM (Open on all days of the week)
- Entry Fee: INR 25 (cash), INR 20 (online), INR 300 (Foreigners)
- Best time to visit: November to February, September to November
- Activities: Cave visit, Buddhist sculptures, panoramic views
