Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

Page 37

Introduction
11
The village of Mohida is situated around 6 km south of Shahada. On the eastern side of Shahada-Khetia road, to the south of the village, are excavated two caves in the bedrock of the Gomai river.
Pune District
8. Pale, Mawal taluka (18° 50'N; 73° 32'E)
The village is situated about 12.8 km from Kamshet on the main Mumbai-Pune road. The cave is excavated at a height of about 231ft (70m) in the hill near Pale village.
9. Junnar, Junnar taluka (19°10'N; 73° 50′E)
The town of Junnar is situated about 76.8 km from Pune, at the entrance of Nane ghat and is famous for a large number of Hinayana Buddhist caves excavated in surrounding hills. In the Manmodi hill, to the south of Junnar town, there are three groups of Buddhist caves. Near the southeastern end of the hill is the second group. called Amba-Ambika. It consists of an unfinished chaitya and a number of ruined cells. The two cells at the western end are converted into a single Jaina shrine by cutting away the partition wall and additions of a few Jaina figures.
Nasik District
10. Pandu Lena, Nasik taluka (19° 56'N; 73° 45'E)
About 8 km south of Nasik, the Trymbaka-Anjaneri hill range ends in three isolated hills, 600 to 1100ft above the plain. In the highest and the eastern most hill is a group of twenty-four Buddhist caves. Of these, Cave XI was converted to the Jaina sect.
11. Chambhar Lena, Nasik taluka (20°4' N; 73° 50′E)
About 8 km north of Nasik town, near the village Mahsrul is a hill. 600ft (182.88m) above the plain. There are three caves, cut about 450ft (137.16m) from the base of the hill.
12. Anjaneri, Nasik taluka (19° 55'N; 73° 30'E)
The village of Anjaneri lies 22.53 km southwest of Nasik and 6.43 km northeast of Trymbakesvara. On the southwest of the village is a flat-topped hill, also called Anjaneri. A cave is excavated in the lower cliff, in the side of the gorge or what is known as 'darawaza', through which the rough ascent passes to reach the second plateau of the hill.
13. Chandor, Chandor taluka (20°20'N; 74°16′E)
The town of Chandor lies about 64.37 km northeast of Nasik, at the foot of a hill range known by the same name. In the hill, to the east of the town is the cave.
14. Tringalwadi, Igatpuri taluka (19°40'N; 73°30'E)
Tringalwadi fort lies 9.65 km northwest of Igatpuri and 6.43 km north of the Thal pass. It stands 2,893ft (881.78m) above the sea. There is one cave at the base of the hill.