Bhaje Caves

The Bhaje Caves are a complex of 22 rock-cut chambers carved into a basalt hillside in Maharashtra, near Pune, representing one of India's oldest surviving Buddhist monastic sites. Dated to around the 2nd century BCE, the caves were likely established along ancient trade routes crossing the Deccan plateau, when early Buddhism was spreading rapidly through the subcontinent. The standout structure is a large chaitya prayer hall featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling with original wooden ribs still in place — a rare survival from this era. A cluster of 14 stupas outside the main cave suggests a sizeable monastic community once resided here. The site requires a short forest trek to reach, rewarding visitors with both the cave interiors and sweeping views across the Sahyadri hills.