VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Friday, 8 May 2026

Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Jangali Maharaj Rd, Revenue Colony, Pune, Maharashtra.

The visit to Pataleshwar Cave Temple, at Pune, in Maharashtra State, was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026.

This Pataleshwar Cave Temple is on the Jangali Maharaj Road, Revenue Colony, Pune. This is one of the oldest and surviving cave temples located in the heart of Pune city. The rock-cut cave temple complex is below the ground level, hence Shiva is called Pataleshwar. This cave temple is a living temple, where poojas are conducted to Sri Pateshwara.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Pataleshwar Rock Cut Cave Temple belongs to the 8th century, hewed during the Rashtrakuta dynasty (753-982 CE).

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex was hewed out of a single basalt rock; this ancient, protected monument features a central sanctum, intricate columns, and a Rishaba mandapa. The entire complex was hewn from top to bottom, similar to the Sri Kailasanathar Temple of Ellora Caves.

The Rishaba mandapa was hewed out from top to bottom, in a circular shape. The mandapa ceiling is supported with 16 square pillars, of which 12 are along the circumference, and the 4 middle pillars form a square mandapa where a Rishabam is installed. The pillars are very simple without any ornamental sculptures or bas-reliefs.

Basically, the sanctum sanctorum was hewed for Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. Presently, the only Shiva Linga is installed at the centre shrine, Ganesh is installed in the first cave, and Parvati is installed in the third cave. In the mandapam, Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita marble idols are installed on a platform in recent years.

The sanctum sanctorum's backside wall surfaces are not finished. Adhistanam carving was done on bits and pieces. All the pillars are square in shape with plain capitals. Only one pillar’s capital is finished. On the mandapa wall, we could witness that the surface was prepared and bas relief works in various stages of completion, lending an intriguing aspect to its overall appearance. Notably, the temple appears to be in an unfinished state. The reasons for the unfinished state may be that the challenging nature of the hard basalt stone hindered the carving process, or if natural fault lines made the structure unsafe, remains a mystery. The reasons for its incomplete status may never be fully known, but the cave continues to serve as an active place of worship, drawing both devotees and tourists alike.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Unfinished cave

The plinth vase details are only in a few places

The one and only finished capital

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thursday, 7 May 2026

Bhaja Buddhist Caves / Ancient Buddhist Heritage Site, Lonavala, महाराष्ट्र / Maharashtra State, India.

The visit to Bhaja Rock Cut Caves, near Lonavala, in Maharashtra State, was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026.

The Buddhist Excavations at Bhaja are a small series of very early Hinayana (Theravada) Caves datable to the 2nd Century B.C. to 1st Century A.D. and consist of 29 excavations. Perhaps one of the oldest Buddhist religious centers in the Deccan, it is hence significant to the development of cave architecture. The Principal Excavation at Bhaja is the Chaitya, which resembles its timber precedent in design with ribbed timber fitted ceiling, plain octagonal shafts with a slight inward rake, and much timber attachment or mortises left in the rock to house timber members in the front and within. The exterior of this prayer hall seems to have been fitted with a huge timber attachment that has since worn away to be replaced by a gaping hole. Such a timber overlay is still evident inside the cave, which has timber ribs spanning the entire width of the roof. The Stupa is a plain conception in two simple parts consisting of a cylindrical base supporting a tall domical body with a railing finial. There are 12 inscriptions in different caves. The other interesting feature of this group of caves is the cluster of Stupas.