Khadsambale Caves

Khadsamble caves are one of the most impressive caves around Pune and Mumbai. These caves contains total of 37 rock structures and are near Thanale Caves.

The main cave is large vihara with chaitya. A hollow portion on the ceiling indicated that it contained stupa. Around the hall there were made several cells for monks.Sometime later, after removal of stupa, the cave was enlarged. In the southern part of cave there was made large vihara with seventeen cells. There was made also vaulted chaitya-griha at the rear part – northern part of cave.Another cave in this group contains two stupas. Still another cave contains remnants of painted plaster with bands of red, black and white color.There is another group of rock-cut caves some 250 m from the main group. Locals call this group – Chamar Lena. One more rock-cut cave is located to the south-east from the main group, on the escarpment of Ganasurat hill.

Caves are built in 2nd century BC and were abandoned approximately at the late 5th century AD, when the port of Chaul declined.The abandoned caves were noticed by H.Cousens in 1881, around this time caves were used as a shelter of Indian revolutionary Vasudev Balwant Phadke as well.