Kharosa Caves
The Kharosa caves are located around 45 kilometers from the city of Latur in Maharashtra. These are 12 rock-cut caves that contain Hindu, Buddhist and Jain images and sculptures. The archeologists and historians are of the opinion that the Kharosa caves were built during the 6th century. These caves are from the time of the Gupta rulers.
The first one is a Buddhist cave in which, a statue of Lord Buddha is found in a sitting posture. The second cave contains a Shivalinga so people often visit it to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. The third cave has the sculpted image of Yaksha that is adorned with bow and arrows, apparently with the purpose of guarding the cave. The fourth cave has two floors, one above the other. The ground floor is situated somewhat underground, but access to the upper floor is provided from the low level cave. This floor contains several Vishnu as well as Shiva-Parvati idols. While one of the caves contains an image of Jain Tirthankara, others have sculptures of Ravana, Narasimha and Kartikeya. When looked at from a religious point of view, these caves represent a confluence of several religions where everybody pray and seek spiritual blessings, irrespective of his or her faith.
A trip to the Kharosa caves is a perfect getaway if you are looking for a small vacation for a few days. You could get away from Mumbai or Pune on a Friday night and return on Monday morning. You will be able to witness Indian history and culture. And of course, you can also offer your prayers at the temple.
How to reach: You should first visit the Latur town. There is a railway station and an airport too. The caves are about 45 kilometers from here, and so, you will have to hire a taxi. Private vehicles are able to reach the entrance of the caves directly.
It is best that you stay in Latur city to visit these caves. You won’t be able to find any good hotels near Kharosa caves, resorts near Kharosa caves or cottages near Kharosa caves
