The Junnar hill, situated at a small place known as Junnar(birthplace of great Indian warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji) in Maharashtra homes a cluster of ancient Buddhist caves. Belonging to the period between 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, the Junnar caves due to their construction and architecture, attract the tourists, Buddhists and archaeologists.


The Junnar caves have been divided into three major categories

a. Tulija Lena group
b. Manmodi Hill group, and
c. Ganesh Lena group.

The Tulija Lena group, 5 kilometers to the west, comprising Chaityas or the prayer halls, has a circular dome ceiling in the Chaiya hall in the cave number 3. The second group of caves, which lies 1.5 kilometers south of Junnar towards the Manmodi hills, constitute a well preserved facade. The third group, the Ganesh Lena group, which is located 4 kilometers south of Junnar, comprises a large number of small cells and viharas. The main vihara of this group has been named 'Ganesh Lena', after the group with same name.


The Gateway to Junnar Caves

• Mumbai : The capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra, Mumbai is also known as the city of dreams and glamour. Mumbai, which is also a metropolitan city of India along with the other three Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata, is situated along the coast of the Arabian sea. The city is lively with its numerous cultural, historical and other tourist centres such as the Elephanta caves, the Gateway of India, the Kanheri caves, the Junnar caves, Juhu beach and Marine Drive.

Other Cave Attractions

• Pithalkora Caves : The scenic beauty of the Satmala hills attract the tourists to its most treasured possession - the Pithalkora Caves. Situated at a distance of 78 kilometers from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the Pithalkora caves are the largest Theravadin caves of the Indian sub-continent. These caves home Buddhist temples, monasteries and viharas belonging to the ancient era, which is from 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE.
  
  
• Elephanta Caves : The Elephana or Gharapuri caves, located 9 miles across the Arabian sea from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, hosts some magnificent rock cut caves. These cave temples, dating back to the 7th century, have been dedicated to the Hindu lord Shiva, by reflecting Him in three main forms of the Creator, Protector and the Destroyer.
  
  
• Ajanta Caves : One of the major heritages of India, the Ajanta caves are situated on the Sahyadri hills at a distance of 108 kilometers from Aurangabad. A unique collection of architecture, sculpture and paintings, these ancient caves, 30 in number, comprises mainly Chaityas or prayer halls, Viharas or monasteries and images of the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas.
  
  
• Ellora Caves : The Ellora caves, located 26 kilometers north of Aurangabad are not only magnificent in architecture, but at the same time presents a unique combination of temples of all three major religions in the ancient India - the Buddhist temples, the Jain temples and the Hindu temples. The Ellora caves, 34 in number, also consists of Buddhist Chaityas, Viharas, temples and monasteries.
  
  
• Karla Caves : Situated at a distance of 11 kilometers from Lonavla in Maharashtra, the Karla caves dates back to the 2nd century CE. These caves, comprising large Chaitya halls and viharas, are an excellent example of the magnificent Indian Buddhist architecture.
  
  
• Bhaja Caves : The Bhaja caves, 12 kilometers away from Lonavla in Maharashtra, are 18 in number. These caves belong to the 2nd century BCE and includes mainly Chaityas and Viharas, which are also some of the finest examples of the Indian sculptural and architectural style. Cave number 12, the Chaita hall, is the largest cave of all, while cave number 1 is the best in architecture. The last cave has pictures of a prince seated on an elephant among many others thereby depicting the phases of the Buddha's life.
  
  
• Aurangabad Buddhist Caves : Dating back to the period between 4th-8th century CE, the Aurangabad Buddhist caves lie in the city of Aurangabad, Maharashtra. These caves include a cluster of total nine rock cut caves, most of which were built by the Vakataka and the Chalukya rulers. The rock cut caves have been divided into the eastern and western caves, while all of them belonging to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, except cave 4th(Theravadin) as an exception. One of the cave temples, the 6th one, has been dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesha.