Pandavleni Caves

About Pandavleni Caves, Nashik

Ancient rock-cut Hinayana Buddhist monasteries and stupas

• Pandavleni Caves, also known as the Trirashmi Caves, are a group of 24 rock-cut chambers carved into the slopes of Trirashmi Hill along the Mumbai-Agra highway.
• Chiseled between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE, these caves were financed by merchants, local kings, and the Satavahana dynasty as residential viharas and prayer chaityas for Buddhist monks.
• Reaching the site requires climbing roughly 300 stone steps.
• Cave 3 and Cave 10 stand out for their detailed pillars, inscriptions, and stone water-cistern systems cut directly into the hillside rock.
• The caves remain open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with an entry fee of 25 rupees for Indian nationals and 300 rupees for foreign tourists.
• November to February brings dry, pleasant weather for the climb, while mornings help visitors avoid the direct afternoon heat.