• Jan 25 2016
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Kondhane Buddhist Caves

When you think of Raigad, the first thing that comes to mind is the Raigad Fort, Varsoli Beach, Zenith Falls and Phansad Bird Sanctuary. But amidst all this, another gem has been attracting avid tourists and trekkers to scale greater heights to explore ancient Buddhist caves that date back to the 1st century. We are talking about the Kondana Caves located in Raigad District close to Karjat that consists of 16 excavated Buddhist caves in all their glory. Located just 14 km away from the Karjat Railway Station, the Kondana Caves lies hidden in a lush green forest and has a waterfall cascading down almost covering the caves in a blanket of white mist during the monsoon season which makes these caves even more spectacular and a definite must-visit! The facade of the caves has beautiful and detailed carvings making it an architectural marvel. The interiors of the cave or the Vihara which used to be an open or shared space like living quarters for the monks are still intact and you can see the arches, pillars and doors along with a string of statues and carvings on the walls. The Chaitya or the prayer hall is a space where you’re most likely to find a stupa in any Buddhist cave you’ll come across. The insides are mostly covered in ruins with a stupa that is being currently restored by the Archaeological Survey Of India. The trek to the cave starts at the base village of Kondhane and there is also a shortcut from the caves that will lead you to Rajmachi Fort, ain’t that handy? The base village does have some eateries that you can fuel up at. But don’t forget to carry some snacks and lots of water for your trek. So next time you’re in Raigad or on your way to Karjat, make a detour and scale some great heights to discover an ancient Buddhist cave.