ABOUT THE
Attraction
Carved out of a large basalt rock the hills on the outskirts of Mumbai, Maharashtra, these rock-cut Buddhist caves are some of the oldest caves in the country. These caves are known for the large Buddha figures in Cave 3; the 11-headed Avalokiteshvara in Cave 41; and the panel of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Caves 2, 41 and 90. Congregation halls with large stupas seem indicate that the caves were Buddhist shrines and a focal point during the Buddhist settlement here. These caves present an insight into the evolution of Buddhism and also have the distinction of having the largest number of cave excavations on a single hill. The nearest prominent city is Mumbai.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Pitalkhora Caves
14 caves at Pitalkhora date back to the 3rd century BC, making them the earliest forms of rock architecture in the country.
Ellora Caves
Built in the 3rd century BC during the reign of King Ashoka. It is the site of an ancient Buddhist settlement, known as Chintapalli.
Namdroling Monastery
Namdroling Nyingmapa monastery is said to be the largest teaching centre of the Nyingmapa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.