Bhaja Caves India : Come to Bhaja after seeing Bhaja Caves. Bhaja is just 3 km on Opp side of NH. A road goes to Bhaja across Malavali level crossing. Distance of Bhaja from Malavali rly stn is 1.6 km. There is no bus service. So it is convenient to tour Bhaja Cavesand Bhaja by auto from Lonavala and then to start for Pune by local train from Malavali. Or you may go to Bhaja Caves from Lonavala Rly stn by 8/9 bus. Covering Bhaja Cavesgo to Bhaja 5 km on foot and then again come back to Malavali, 1.6 km, on foot.

Here you will find 18 undecorated Hinayana-patterned temple-caves built in 2nd century B C. In Noll there are Ustupas. Som'e of the sculptures in tottering condition in No 12 cave resemble those of Bhaja Caves. Sculpture of the cave on extreme right is lovely. The image of dancing couple is amaz­ing. Proceeding further towards right you will see a fountain hill stream coming down from the hill. Distant Bhisapur Fort standing atop Bhaja hill is also visible from here. Rough and narrow road has gone through dwellings. The number of steps though are half of those at Bhaja Caves, plain and simple Bhaja has little tourist appeal after your visit to Bhaja Caves.

The 18 Bhaja caves are supposed to have been built for Buddhist nuns. Excavated in the 2nd century BC. The pillars are sloping but the stilted vault is a fine piece of work. The last cave to the south has some fine sculpture, including a prince seated on an elephant, a prince in a chariot and three armed figures. The dancing couple is a justly famous piece of sculpture. These caves are as old as Bhaja Caves. Cave no 12 is a chaitya hall the finest of the cave complex. Cave no 1 is the dwelling house for the master architect, 10 are Viharas and remaining 7 caves contain inscriptions about the donors.