Bhaja cave is situated near Malavani Station on Mumbai - Pune route. It was constructed in the second century BC. The Bhaja cave is renowned for its architecture which dates from the Buddhist period. The Bhaja chaitya house, a large prayer hall is considered to be a fine example of the ancient era. The solid stupa, inside it, is very simple. There are some samples of idol art inside the cave. Karla and Bhaja Caves are one of the oldest caves in India dated back to 160 B.C. It is believed that these caves have existed from the time of the Hinayana phase of Buddhism. These caves are situated amidst the lush greenery and nearby the waterfall. It is a paradise for the history buffs and shutterbugs.
There are 22 caves in Bhaja, consisting of chaitya house, cloister, and solid stupas. The Bhaja cave is one of the earliest caves that date back to 200 BC. In terms of area, it is about 38.25 meters long, 15 m wide and 14.50 meters in height. A rectangular room at Bhaja is 18 meters in length, 8.50 meters in width and 6.5 meters high. In front of this, there were verandah and eight cells, where the Buddhist monks used to stay. This chaitya has a globular shape, the stone pillars are slightly tilled and the stupa does not know any embellishment. Five human figures are inscribed on their coral reefs, under which there are statues of the demons. Here the second statue is of Gajanan Devendra. This cave-monastery is known as the Sun-worshippers.
There are 14 rock-cut stupas that are built in the memory of the teachers containing their relics. Inside the cave, there are writings of the contributors who patronized these monasteries. Pay a visit there to witness the best example of rock-cut caves with the finest rock-cut architectural beauty.
Bhaja Caves Timings: 8:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M
Bhaja Caves Entry Fees: INR 15 for Indian nationals and INR 200 for foreign nationals.
