The Khadsamble Caves, also known as Nenavali Caves, are a group of 37 Buddhist caves in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India, located in the Sudhagad area near Pali and the Thanale Caves
Address: G86V+4P3, Ghera Sudhagad, Maharashtra 412108
Get there: 3 hrs 1 min
https://share.google/pxfepxXMBzMV0I5tp
Sudhagad, Maharashtra
| Resort Name | Phone Number(s) |
| Navghar Nature Village Resort | +91 8446538765 |
| Hidden Hill Resort Pali Sudhagad | +91 8460469960 |
| Gaudham Resort Pali | +91 7738999004, +91 9223594601 |
| Discover Resort Pali | +91 8069065622, +91 9319860099 |
While there may not be large-scale resorts directly at the caves, you can find a number of good choices nearby.
Here are some of the resorts and other notable places to stay:
- Navghar Nature Village Resort: This resort is located on Navghar Wandroshi Road, close to Sudhagad. It is a highly-rated 3-star property with amenities such as a swimming pool and a restaurant, making it a suitable option for a comfortable stay.
Our Location SH92, Pedali, Kanhivali, Maharashtra 410205
Our Phone +91 8446538765
Mail Address navgharnaturevillageresort @gmail.com
- Hidden Hill Resort Pali Sudhagad: Situated in Pali, this 3-star hotel offers an indoor pool and a restaurant. It provides a good base for exploring the area.
Address: HIDDEN HILL RESORT, ON WAY OF HOT WATER SPRING, NEAR BY UNHERE WATER DAM PALI SUDHAGAD, Maharashtra 410205
Get there: 2 hrs 10 mins
Phone: 077770 33751
Sudhagad Fort, Pali Sudhagad, Avandhe, Maharashtra 412108
- Gaudham Resort: Located on the Pali-Khopoli road, this resort is in the Sudhagad area. It is a 3-star property popular for its peaceful surroundings and includes a restaurant and Wi-Fi.
Gaudham is a farm stay and resort located at Pawasala Gaon off the Pali-Khopoli Road, in Vasunde, Sudhagad, Raigad, Maharashtra.
Address: M87M+6H, Vasunde, Pawasalawadi, Maharashtra 410205
Get there: 2 hrs 5 mins
Phone: 077389 99004
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kwv67hmkXGSgsrL87
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5C3hTK7rjchKaMSS6 driving directions
- Discover Resort Pali-Khopoli: This is a well-known resort in the region, offering a range of amenities. It is a good choice if you are looking for a more comprehensive resort experience.
- The Tranquill Farm: Found near the Ballaleshwar Temple in Pali, this location offers a leisure stay with a swimming pool and is family-friendly.
- Mountain View Farm & Camping: For those looking for a more adventurous or rustic experience, this option offers camping and farm stays directly in the Sudhagad area.
The Khadsamble Caves, also known as Nenavali Caves, are a group of 37 Buddhist caves in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India, located in the Sudhagad area near Pali and the Thanale Caves. Carved around the 1st century BCE, these ancient caves, which include a stupa, once served as a large colony for Buddhist monks and remain an important site for their historical and cultural significance. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Characteristics:
-
Name: Also known as Nenavali Caves. [2]
-
Location: Situated in the Sudhagad area of the Raigad district, Maharashtra, about 35 km from Pali. [2]
-
Religious Affiliation: The caves are Buddhist in nature. [3]
-
Age: Carved in the 1st century BCE. [2]
-
Features: The complex contains around 37 rock structures and features a stupa. [1, 4]
-
Historical Context: They likely served as a significant monastic colony in ancient times, though many now stand in a state of neglect. [3]
-
Proximity: They are close to the Thanale Caves. [1, 5]
Significance:
The Khadsamble Caves offer a glimpse into the Buddhist heritage of India, with their early rock-cut architecture from the 1st century BCE providing insight into the lives of monks during that era. [3, 6]
Not all images can be exported from Search.
Nenavali Caves
Ancient Buddhist Caves of Maharashtra
Nenavali Caves or Khadsamble Caves are caves in Sudhagad taluka of Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is a group of 37 Buddhist caves carved in the 1st century BC. These caves are 9 km south of Nadsur Caves (Thanal Caves) and 35 km from Pali.
Detailed information about the caves:-
The stone of these caves is a red-colored sandstone and is not very durable, due to which these caves have suffered a lot of damage.
Cave scholars say that there are about 30 to 48 cave groups at this place. Some people mention only 21 caves because it is now difficult to say how many caves there are. Because many of the caves have been buried. Most of the caves have been destroyed due to the collapse of the mountainside. Since the facade of the caves has been completely destroyed, it cannot be ruled out that there may be inscriptions on these caves. The entrances to almost all the caves have been destroyed. There are 17 monks’ residences next to the main chapel of the caves. Although they are ruined, their former beauty was amazing. The front facade of many caves has been destroyed and only the roof part remains. Many things can be said about the technique of diverting water flow from the mountain behind the stupa and taking it to the water tank.
In one place of the cave, the remains of two half-finished stupas are found. It seems that the stupas must have been carved on top of the bones of arhat monks. It seems that there must be a row of stupas at this place. Because the stupas are arranged in a similar way at the Bhaje caves, it is believed that the Bhaje caves were built after these caves.
There is a spacious vihara right next to the stupa, which is completely buried under the soil. There is a path to go inside from one side, but it is dangerous. Since it is closed from the front and is low in height, it is difficult to get out of it.
Cave number 1 seems to be a partial cave, but it may not be partial because its upper part has collapsed, so its remains must be around. The upper edge of the mountain in which it is located has completely collapsed.
Only the back wall of cave number two can be identified; the rest of its front hall etc. has been destroyed.
Cave number three has a hall in front, a courtyard nearby and a void in the back. The facade has completely collapsed.
In cave number four, the remains of the wall can be seen clinging to the roof. Moreover, the walls have completely collapsed and the front facade has been destroyed.
Cave number five is similar to number four. However, there is a sleeping area adjacent to its back wall.
Only the room of cave number six can be identified. There is a niche in the back wall of this room.
Cave number seven is also in a similar condition; the back room can be identified, all the rest are in ruins.
Since the facade of the entire cave has been destroyed, only the remaining parts of the roof testify to the existence of the cave.
Cave number eight is magnificent and its layout is typical. One can enter the hall in front by climbing three steps from the courtyard. There is a hall on the side of the hall. There is an inner hall on the right side of the hall and a room in the middle. There are spacious sleeping quarters on the side of the wall on the outer hall. There is a square window on the wall in front of the inner hall, and there is a row on the right side of the inner hall. Overall, looking at the layout of this cave, this cave seems to be a multi-room apartment. There are a total of five rows in this cave, so there must be a sleeping arrangement for at least five monks here.
Cave number nine has the roof and the rows of the back room and the side of the back wall.
The tenth cave is the main cave here. Here one can see a spacious vihara. It can be called a hall or a large chaityagriha. This is one of the largest chaityagriha in Maharashtra. This is a rectangular chaityagriha. The important thing here is that there are a total of seventeen rooms on the side of the stupa of these caves. When we look at the stupa as a whole, we do not see it in the middle like other caves. It is seen in a corner, which suggests that the idea of a stupa must have come later. Moreover, this stupa seems different from other stupas, it may be the first stupa. Since this cave was carved in the second century BC, the construction of these caves seems normal. There are seventeen monk residences and they must have been carved for the meditation of arhat monks or senior monks. It can be said that the stupa should have a wooden roof and a wooden Harmika. In total, there must have been a stupa in the middle of this monastery cave, but it seems that it must have been removed later. Because its remains can be seen there. Overall, seeing the row of rooms in front, the monastery space after it, and the sanctum sanctorum of the stupa after that, there is no problem in saying that the mind-blowing architectural art was developed here. Since the entire facade has been destroyed, it can be said that there must be an inscription here. It cannot be said that there is such a large group of caves and no inscription. Inscriptions can be seen on small caves, so it cannot be said that there is such a large group of caves and no inscription there, because the facades of all the caves have been destroyed, and the inscription is usually carved on the facade itself.
