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.
Bhaja
Caves are protected as a National Monument by the Archaeological Survey of
India vide Notification No. 2704-A, dated 26.05.1909.
LOCATION
OF THE CAVE: CLICK HERE
Funeral memoirs of important Theras (monks)
A CAVE WITH SCULPTURES FOR A HIGHER LEVEL MONK
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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