Some of Maharashtra’s oldest caves are still a proper walk from the nearest road. Monks cut them high on the slopes, on forest trails and old trade passes, and getting there is half the fun. Here are eight treks that end at a cave, in order from easy to hard, so you can pick the one that fits your legs today.
The 8 cave treks at a glance
| Trek | Near | Base village | One way | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kondana Caves | Karjat | Kondana / Kondivade | About 1 hour | Easy |
| Bedse Caves | Kamshet | Bedse | About 20 min of steps | Easy |
| Ghatotkacha Cave | Ajanta | Janjala | Steep steps into a valley | Moderate |
| Naneghat | Murbad / Junnar | Vaishakhare | 2.5 to 3 hours | Moderate |
| Thanale Caves | Pali | Thanale | About 2 hours | Moderate |
| Nenavali Caves | Pali | Khadsamble | About 1 to 1.5 hours | Moderate |
| Harishchandragad caves | Malshej Ghat | Pachnai or Khireshwar | 2 to 4 hours | Moderate |
| Dhak Bahiri | Karjat / Kamshet | Jambhivli or Sandshi | 2 to 3 hours plus a rock climb | Technical |
Times are one way for an average pace, from the sources listed at the end. Your day will be longer with breaks and the walk back.
Easy
1. Kondana Caves
Near Karjat, Raigad district · about 1 hour · easy
The best first cave trek in the state. A clear, well-used trail climbs through forest from Kondana village (via Kondivade, about 12–15 km from Karjat) to Buddhist caves cut in the 1st century BCE. In the monsoon a waterfall of around 115 feet pours down right beside the caves, which is why the trail is busy on rainy weekends. The same path carries on to Rajmachi, another 2 to 3 hours, if you want a longer day. Karjat is the nearest railway station; autos and ST buses run to the villages.
2. Bedse Caves
Near Kamshet, Pune district · about 20 minutes of steps · easy
More of a climb than a trek: 350–400 good steps from Bedse village up to a 1st-century BCE prayer hall and monastery. The caves face east, so the morning light is best. Full details are in my list of caves near Pune.
Moderate
3. Ghatotkacha Cave
Janjala, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district · steep steps · moderate
Three Buddhist caves from the 6th century, hidden in a valley below Janjala village, west of Ajanta. An inscription in the porch names Varahadeva, a minister of the Vakataka king Harishena; the same Varahadeva dedicated Cave 16 at Ajanta. The ASI has built steps down into the valley, but they are steep, and Maharashtra Tourism itself says the site is for adventurous travellers. Janjala fort (Vaishagad) stands on the same plateau, so you can combine the two.
4. Naneghat
Vaishakhare, Thane district · 2.5 to 3 hours · moderate
A 2,000-year-old trade pass between the Konkan ports and Junnar, and one of the great history treks of the Sahyadri. At the top is a rock-cut cave from the Satavahana period, with a long Brahmi inscription commissioned by Queen Naganika, wife of King Satakarni. The statues of Satavahana royals that once stood here survive only in fragments. A huge stone pot at the top is said to have collected the toll; “nane” means coin. From Vaishakhare, on the Kalyan–Murbad–Malshej road, the first half is gentle and the second half steep. Streams dry up after the monsoon, so carry plenty of water. Coming from Pune, you can drive almost to the top via Junnar and Ghatghar.
5. Thanale (Nadsur) Caves
Thanale village, Raigad district · about 2 hours · moderate
Twenty-three Buddhist caves, among the oldest in India: the earliest were cut around 70–50 BCE, on the ancient trade route from the port of Chaul. The usual path starts at Thanale village (off the Khopoli–Pali road, about 18 km from Pali) and climbs through dense forest past waterfalls. Trekkers from Pune have painted arrows along the trail. Look for the stupas and the carvings in cave 7. The caves are protected by the ASI.
6. Nenavali (Khadsamble) Caves
Khadsamble, Raigad district · about 1 to 1.5 hours · moderate
The biggest of the Sudhagad cave groups: thirty-seven Buddhist caves cut in the 1st century BCE, about 35 km from Pali. From Khadsamble village it is about an hour of fairly level walking and then a short climb. Paths branch in the forest, so confirm the route in the village before you set off.
7. Harishchandragad: Kedareshwar Cave
Pachnai or Khireshwar, Ahilyanagar district · 2 to 4 hours · moderate
A fort trek with some of the most atmospheric caves in the Sahyadri on top. In the Kedareshwar cave, a Shiva linga about five feet tall stands in ice-cold water all year round. Nearby are the Harishchandreshwar temple, the Saptatirtha Pushkarni tank and caves with carved images of Vishnu and Shiva. The easiest route is from Pachnai, about 3 km and 2 to 3 hours; the route from Khireshwar via Tolar Khind is longer, about 6–7 km. In the monsoon the stream outside Kedareshwar runs too high to enter the cave, so go between October and February if the cave is your goal. Many trekkers stay the night and walk to the Konkan Kada cliff for sunset.
Technical: experienced trekkers only
8. Dhak Bahiri
Jambhivli (Kamshet side) or Sandshi (Karjat side) · 2 to 3 hours plus a rock climb · technical
A cave shrine to the god Bahiri, cut into the middle of a cliff on Dhak fort, at about 2,700 feet. The walk in is forest and plateau; the finish is a steep rock patch of around 70 degrees, with carved holds, steel wires and fixed ropes, then a climb up a swaying wooden log to the cave mouth. A slip here can be fatal. Go only with an experienced team that carries ropes and harnesses, never alone, never late in the day and never in the monsoon. Locals and regular trekkers give the same advice. If you have any doubt, enjoy the forest walk and leave the last patch for another day.
Before you go
- Never trek alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Mobile signal is patchy or absent on most of these trails.
- Start early. Be on the trail soon after sunrise and back at the base well before dark.
- Carry water. After the monsoon most streams dry up, and there are no shops on the trails.
- Wear shoes with grip. Monsoon rock is slippery, and steps near waterfalls are worst.
- Respect the caves. Most are well over a thousand years old: no graffiti, no fires against the walls, carry your rubbish back down.
- Monsoon caution. Waterfalls and full streams make the easy treks beautiful but can cut a trail in minutes. Turn back if the water rises.
More caves: see my lists of caves near Pune, caves in Mumbai and the Junnar caves.
