Bhaja caves: The Bhaja Caves

The Bhaja Caves, dating back to the 2nd century BCE, consist of 22 rock-cut caves carved into the rugged hills of Maharashtra. These caves are a fine example of early Buddhist architecture and were primarily used by monks for meditation and living. Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to 200 BC located at Maval, near Lonavala, Maharashtra.The caves are located 400 feet above the Bhaja Village. The Bhaja Caves are on a major trade route of the past that ran from the Arabian Sea eastward into the Deccan region, the division between North India and South India. The inscriptions and cave temple are protected as a National Monument, by the Archaeological Survey of India vide Notification No. 2407-A. This is one of the ... Bhaja appears in various studies related to travel, cave architecture, and Indian art. 11 For a long time, the caves were generally accepted to have been excavated around 200 BCE, the dating given to it by Fergusson and Burgess. Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves are primarily Buddhist Caves which are more than 2500 years old. The caves mostly have two kind of structures – either an ornate prayer hall which has a large central stupa and pillars all around it. Or a more simpler cave – room which acted as the meditation room as well as residence of the monks.