Gandharpale Caves

Gandharpale Caves
Gandharpale Caves
Location within India
18°05′12″N 73°24′15″E / 18.086802°N 73.404100°E / 18.086802; 73.404100
Site notes
Governing body	Archeological Survey of India

Buddhist holy sites
Pilgrimage to

Eight great places Four main sites Lumbini Bodh Gaya Sarnath Kushinagar Four additional sites Rajgir Sankissa Shravasti Vaishali
Other canonical sites Devdaha Kapilavastu Kosambi Pataliputra Pāvā Tilaurakot Varanasi
Later historical sites Ajanta Amaravati Barabar Caves Bharhut Chandavaram Ellora Caves Kesaria stupa Lalitgiri Mathura Nalanda Nasik Piprahwa Pushpagiri Ramagrama stupa Ratnagiri Sanchi Udayagiri Vikramashila

Gandharpale Caves, also called Mahad caves is group of 30 Buddhist caves, 105 km south of Mumbai on Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad.^[1] The caves are located near the NH-17 (New NH-66) and well connected by road.

Important cave include:^[1]

Cave 1: has Verandah in front 53 feet long and 8 feet wide. Shrine has sculpture images of Buddha, with wheel and deer beneath
Cave 8: it has high dogoba
Cave 15: has dogoba
Cave 21: seated Buddha with attendants

The inscription describes donations by bankers, and the gift of a farm to the Sangha.^[1]

General view
The Caves
Cave entrance
Interior
Dedicatory inscription

References

1 2 3 Ahir, D. C. (2003). Buddhist sites and shrines in India : history, art, and architecture (1. ed.). Delhi: Sri Satguru Publ. p. 198. ISBN 8170307740.

Buddhist caves in India
Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramateertham Sankaram Undavalli Caves
Bihar	Indrasala Cave Vulture Peak Saptaparni Cave Barabar Caves
Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Khapra Kodiya Caves Bava Pyara Caves Uparkot Caves Kadia Dungar Caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot Caves Talaja Caves
Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava Caves
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Saru Maru
Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Ambivali Caves Aurangabad Caves Bahrot Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Ellora Caves Mahad/Gandharpale Caves Ghatotkacha Caves Ghorawadi/Shelarwadi Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Khed Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Nenavali Caves Nasik/Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Patan Caves Pitalkhora Pohale Caves Shirwal Caves Nadsur/Thanale Caves Vijasan Caves Wai Caves Yerphal Caves In the Mumbai area: Elephanta Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kondivite/Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Kanheri Caves In the Junnar area: Lenyadri Manmodi Caves Shivneri Caves Tulja Caves
Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist Caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves