Kondana Buddhist Cave, Maharashtra

Address

Kondana Buddhist Cave, Rajmachi Trek, Kondhane, Maharashtra 410201

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

The Kondana Caves are located in the small village of Kondana, 33 km north of Lonavala and 16 km northwest of Karla Caves. This cave group has 16 Buddhist caves. The caves were excavated in first century B.C. The construction on wooden pattern is notable. One can reach the cave by descending from Rajmachi village. Kondana Caves are very famous Buddhist caves. These caves enclose sculptures, vihara, chaitya, and stupa. Sculptures and stupas are specimens of the ancient period Buddhist architecture. There was a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake in early 1900 by which many stupas, front entrance and floor of the caves were damaged. These ancient caves attract lots Buddhist devotees all through the year. Kondana Caves is around 15 KM from Karjat.

Puranic Significance

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. 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 the arches, pillars and doors along with a string of statues and carvings on the walls. The insides are mostly covered in ruins with a stupa that is being currently under the control of Archaeological Survey of India.