Want to escape Mumbai for a few days? Is that Mumbai traffic really getting to you? Or are you just a little bored and want to experience something new for a day or two? If so then a trip to Lonavala is perfect for you!
There are several things to do in Lonavala, especially if you are visiting during the wet season. Anyway, regardless of your budget, the season, or pretty much anything, you simply have to find the time to visit the Bhaji Caves.
In all honesty, visiting these caves was one of the main highlights for me during our recent trip to India. I know what you are thinking. How can these caves be that impressive? Well, I thought, I’d write a little about them, and show you a few photos all with the goal of convincing you to check them out!
Our Experience
The caves were built in 200 BC and are estimated to be approximately 2,200 years old. They are located 400 feet above the village of Bhaja and have been used by Buddhist monks as a somewhere to live and meditate.
I found the design, architecture and overall layout of the caves to be particularly impressive. The caves are not only stunning to look at, but also functional. The Bhaja caves include systems to collect rainwater, living quarters, prayer halls as well as communal spaces for its residents. These feats become even more impressive when considering that these caves are man-made and with them being carved into the existing mountain.
Cave 12 is the most significant among the Bhaja Caves. It houses a large stupa within its prayer hall and has several engravings on the wall. These depict scenes from the life of Buddha.
The caves share a similar architectural design to the Karla Caves. However, if you are going to choose one to visit then we really would suggest heading here! In our experience, we found these caves to be slightly more impressive and far less busy. We almost had the place to ourselves when we visited! This made the experience far more relaxing and enabled us to really take in these impressive surroundings at our own pace!
Transport and Tickets
Now that I’ve gauged your interest it’s important to work out how to actually get there!
Getting to the Bhaja Caves from pretty much anywhere in Lonavala is quite easy as they are roughly 12km from the town centre. The journey is estimated to take 20-30 minutes (depending on traffic).
However, unlike Mumbai in Lonavala Uber/Ola or any taxi app for that matter are unavailable. It is therefore up to you to book a cab and negotiate a decent price! This obviously can be hard as a tourist as a local cabbie might look to take advantage of you!
To find out what we should be paying for a Taxi or Tuk Tuk, we spoke to some locals, who suggested a range between ₹700-1200.
Our return journey ended up costing a total of ₹800 ($9,58/€8.80/£7.63). This included up to 90 minutes for us to explore the caves and ensured we weren’t in too much of a rush. We took a Tuk Tuk instead of a taxi as this was ₹500 ($5,99/€5.55/£4.77) cheaper (definitely worth saving that money if you ask me!).
Some buses can take you to the caves, but this really isn’t worth it if you ask me. Not only is are the buses irregular, only coming once every 90-120 minutes, but they also drop you off 40 minutes (60 minutes including the hike up to the caves!) away from the caves. Definitely not worth the hassle, especially when you have to walk during that 40. C heat!
The entry fee for the Bhaja Caves is only ₹15 for Indian citizens or ₹300 ($3.60/€3.33/£2.83) for tourists/foreigners. Tickets can be purchased online via the Yatra website, however, you are also able to buy tickets upon arrival at the ticket counter.
PS: Keep your eyes peeled when walking up to the caves as you might be lucky enough to see a few monkeys!
Cost per Person including tickets and transport ₹700 ($8.41/€7.76/£6.61)
Summary
When planning to head to the Bhaja Caves, we would suggest planning in at least 2 hours. This estimate is based on a 30-minute travel each way, a 10/15 minute walk up and down the stairs to reach the caves and 30/40 minutes to take in the impressive scenery.
The Bhaja Caves are easy and cheap to visit and are a definite must-see when in Lonavala!
Thank you for writing such a great blog post.
Keep updating more.
Eagerly waiting ahead. Good luck!
Hi Lahari, thank you for you comment! We are glad you enjoyed the article!
The Bhaja Caves are truly a hidden gem in Lonavla! The scenic hike leading to these ancient rock-cut caves is as rewarding as the caves themselves. The peaceful atmosphere, stunning views, and fascinating historical significance make it a must-visit for anyone exploring the region. It’s a perfect mix of adventure and history! Can’t wait to visit them myself!
Hi Tateey, thank you for taking the time to read our article! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. The Bhaja Caves are truly a special place—feel free to share your experience when you visit, we’d love to hear about it!