Bhaja Caves

The Bhaja Caves form a cluster of twenty-two rock-cut Buddhist shrines believed to date from the second century BC, making them among the earliest surviving cave monuments in India. The complex includes a well-preserved chaitya hall lined with wooden ribs and monastic cells once used by monks. Carved stupas and simple ornamentation reflect an earlier, more austere phase of Buddhist cave architecture compared to later sites. A short uphill walk from the base leads visitors through quiet forest patches before reaching the caves, adding a gentle trekking element to the historical visit.