:: Wellcome to Pandu Lena :: NashikTourism, Nashik Tourism in India, Lakesparadise !

About 8 kms. south of Nasik, is a group of 24 Hinayana Buddhist Caves dating from around the 1st century BC to the 2nd AD. The most important in this group are number 18 and 20. Except caves no. 18, the rest of the caves are Viharas or Monasteries. This group of caves is one of the most important and intriguing in western India. The oldest historical place in Nashik is Pandav caves which are also known as Trirashmi Leni. The famous Dadasaheb Phalke Smarak and Buddhasmarak are soon to be opened for public, which are known for their creativity and only of their kind. Cave 3 is a large vihara with some interesting sculptures. Cave 10 is also a vihara and almost identical in design to cave 3, although it is much older and finer in its detail. It is thought to be nearly as old as the Karla Cave near Lonavala. Cave 18 is a chaitya believed to date from the same time as the Karla Cave and is well sculptured. Its elaborate facade is particularly noteworthy. The cave houses the idols of Buddha, Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, the icons of Bodhisatva, Veer Manibhadraji and Ambikadevi. The interiors of the caves were popular meeting places for the disciples, where sermons were conducted. There are attractive water tanks very skillfully chiselled into the rock. The 2000-yr-old Pandavleni caves, built by the Jain kings, are located on a tableland atop the Trivashmi Hill, close to the Mumbai Road.

Information for tourists

Excavated in Trirashmi Hill, it is also called the caves of the Pandavas. A renovation drive by the Archaeological Survey of India and the State tourism department promises the construction of a stairway from the base to the top of the caves. Pandulena caves are rich in inscriptions throwing light on the history of the Satavahana and Kushana dynasties. Some of the finest caves or viharas are the GuatamiputraVihara, Nahapana Vihara and Mahayana Vihara, which must be visited for their interesting sculptures.

How to get there :- Nashik is well connected by road and rail with all the major places within and outside the state. It also has got a railway station. State transport ply buses regularly connecting Nashik with major cities of Maharashtra like Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, and Aurangabad etc.

Location :- About 8 kms. south of Nasik