Aurangabad Caves

The Aurangabad Caves are a Buddhist complex cut into the basalt slopes near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The Archaeological Survey of India dates them broadly to the 3rd–7th centuries and counts twelve caves arranged in three groups. They sit about 21 metres above the surrounding ground, with roughly a kilometre between the first and second groups.

Cave 3 is the largest in the first group: a monastic hall with a shrine and a circumambulatory passage. Its columns carry foliage and Jataka scenes. Cave 4 is a chaitya, a prayer hall associated with an early Buddhist tradition. In the second group, caves 6 and 7 are especially noted for their sculptural programmes, including bodhisattvas, Hariti and Panchika, dance panels, and a scene of the Buddha’s parinirvana. Farther north, the third group includes excavations that were left unfinished.

The site shows how Buddhist monastic spaces and places of worship were carved directly into the rock. The caves are separated into distinct groups, so check trail conditions, visiting hours, and access to the northern section before travelling; the Archaeological Survey notes that reaching the third group is difficult. Allow time to walk between the groups and follow the rules in place to protect the monument and its sculptures.

Address

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, India

On the map