These are 5 famous caves of India you fear to enter, but, they hold the treasure you seek:
Badami Caves, Karnataka:
Badami is truly famous for its Cave Temples that date back to the 6th and 7th centuries. Located at Badami in Bagalkot district of Karnataka, Cave Temples represent the fine architectural style of the ancient times. The nearest airport to Badami is located in Belgaum (150KM). Badami is sited at the orifice of a gorge that is fringed by two rocky hills.
Badami Cave Temple is the best example of Chalukyan style of architecture. Made out of Sandstone hills, Badami Cave Temples boast of rock-cut architecture. In totality, there are four cave temples in Badami. All these temples enclose brilliant carvings with the sculptures of Gods from the Hindu pantheon. The structure of these temples is a perfect fusion of North Indian Nagara style and South Indian Dravidian style of architecture. Each cave embraces a sanctum, a hall, a verandah, and pillars. The entrance leads through a pillared verandah – Mukha mandapa, pillars have a square form in section. Caves are adorned with a lavish frieze below the columns. The main hall of each temple – maha mandapa – is standing on massive columns. The furthest part of the temple behind the main hall is the shrine – cella or garbhagrha. Most likely caves were covered with exciting murals – only traces of this former beauty remain.
Amarnath Caves, J&K:
The Amarnath caves, located in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, are one of the most famous shrines in Hinduism. It is reckoned that Baba Bholenath calls out to his devotees to Amarnath cave, where he generously showers blessings and grant prayers and wishes of the people. Perched at an elevation of around 3,888 m and 45 km away from Pahalgam, Amarnath Temple is believed to be the earthly abode of Lord Shiva and is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology.
Inside the main Amarnath cave is an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. According to Hindu mythology, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati. There are two other ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva’s son, Ganesha. About 400,000 people visit during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela.
Udaigiri & Khandagiri Caves, Odisha:
The Udayagiri caves near Vidisha are around 14 km (depending on route) from Sanchi. Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves are one of the earliest groups of Jain rock-cut shelters, the caves of Udayagiri (Hill of Sunrise) and Khandagiri (Broken Hills) command a unique position in the field of history, rock-cut architecture, art, and religion. The twin hills Udayagiri and Khandagiri (Lat. 20.16 N; Long. 85.47E) are located in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar town. The National Highway No.5 passes through the close proximity of the hills. These two hills represent one of the earliest groups of Jaina rock-cut architecture in eastern India in the field of architecture, art, and religion. These caves were first brought to the notice by A. Stirling in 1825 A.D.
Rising abruptly amidst a wide expanse of arid lateritic soil both the hills separated from each other by a narrow row through which passes modern road between Bhubaneswar and Chandaka. The ancient names of the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri are Kumari and Kumara parvatas respectively. There are total 33 rock cut caves on both the hills out of which 18 caves are excavated on Udayagiri hill while 15 are on the Khandagiri hill. Generally, caves are single storied but a few of them are double storied also.
You can reach Udayagiri hills via road. The best cab service in Bhubaneswar to take you to Udayagiri hills is that of Gozo Cabs.
Undavali Caves, Andhra Pradesh:
Hills around Vijayawada are rich with rock-cut architecture but the most magnificent and largest among these monuments is the largest of Undavalli Caves – an amazing achievement of engineering, four floors high rock-cut temple with numerous sculptures and murals. The caves of Undavalli provides the finest example of the rock-cut architecture of the Buddhists in India.
The caves are 29 meters long and 16 meters wide. Each floor has different heights. The first floor is a low-pillared hall with eight pillars and seven door openings. The first story has shrines dedicated Trimurti- Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, each with a pillared hall in the front. The largest among Undavalli Caves is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple which has four stories. There is another cave which is dedicated to Hindu Trinities: Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. This cave is surrounded by greenery which is fed by the Krishna River. Caves are associated with Vishnukundina kings – influential dynasty ruling over a significant part of contemporary India in 420 – 620 AD. Caves were dedicated by local governor Madhava Reddy to the Anantapadmanabha Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temples. It is said that these caves once served as Jain Viharas and accommodated Jain sadhus. In fact, we can see the sculptures of Thirthankaras and Vihara structure in the first level of Undavalli caves. These caves also stand as an example of how Buddhist artifacts and stupas were converted into Hindu Temples.
Bheembetka Caves, Madhya Pradesh:
The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are located about 45 KM southeast of Bhopal on the road to Hoshangabad. The site spread over 10 km in length and about 3 km in width has more than 700 rock shelters, of which over 400 have paintings. These caves contain the oldest known petroglyphs in the world, some of the most impressive galleries of ancient paintings and even the remnants of Buddhist temples and paintings from the 11th – 14th century AD.
There are hundreds of caves with paintings and some 12 – 15 are open for visitors. In spite of the unique values of Bhimbetka, this site is not that popular among tourists yet. The caves of Bhimbetka were discovered in 1957-58. Indian archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Wakankar noticed very impressive landscape from the window of a train south from Obaidullaganj. There were visible giant rocks and boulders and dark entrances in caves. Later on, it is discovered and get into the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2003. The paintings found in the rock shelters here have a striking resemblance to the ones discovered in Kakadu National Park in Australia; to the cave paintings of Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert and Upper Palaeolithic Lascaux cave paintings in France. A walk through these ancient naturally carved rocks surrounded by dense forests of Bhimbetka will bring alive child-like wonder in you.