Cave Temples in India
India's magnificent rock-cut cave temples, carved out of living rock.
17 temples
Ahobilam Narasimha Temple
Ahobilam, situated in the dense Nallamala forest of Kurnool district, is the sacred landscape where Lord Narasimha — the half-man, half-lion avatar of Vishnu — is believed to have manifested…
Ajanta Cave Temples
A UNESCO World Heritage site with 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves famous for ancient mural paintings and Jataka tale depictions.
Amarnath Cave Temple
One of the holiest shrines at 3,888m altitude, famous for its naturally occurring ice stalagmite Shiva Lingam.
Badami Cave Temples
The Badami Cave Temples are a complex of four rock-cut cave temples carved into the soft sandstone cliffs of Badami, the capital of the Early Chalukya dynasty.
Barabar Caves
The oldest surviving rock-cut chambers in India, excavated by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
Elephanta Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage site on Elephanta Island, famed for the colossal 20-foot Trimurti sculpture of Lord Shiva.
Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple
A mystical coastal temple where five ancient lingams are naturally bathed by ocean waves at high tide.
Jhandewalan Devi Mandir
One of Delhi's oldest and most revered Shakti shrines, named after the ritual flags (Jhandas) offered by its many devotees.
Kailasa Temple, Ellora
The world's largest monolithic rock-cut structure, carved top-down from a single basalt cliff.
Kalpeshwar Temple
The only Panch Kedar temple accessible year-round, housed in a natural cave and featuring a unique four-faced Shiva linga representing the god's hair.
Kasar Devi Temple Almora
A hilltop Durga shrine about eight kilometres north of Almora, where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1890 and where Crank's Ridge later drew Western seekers.
Mawjymbuin Shiva Temple
Famous for its massive natural stalagmite that resembles a Shiva Lingam, constantly bathed by water dripping from the cave roof.
Olakkaneswara Temple
Olakkaneswara Temple, located on a rocky outcrop at the southern end of Mahabalipuram beach, was built by the Pallavas in the 7th century.
Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave
An underground limestone cave temple where legend says the entire pantheon of Hindu gods reside in rock formations.
Peer Kho Cave Temple
A cave temple on the Tawi banks where legend says Jamvant meditated; it is one of the oldest and most atmospheric in Jammu.
Unakoti
An ancient pilgrimage site featuring massive rock-cut sculptures of Shiva and other deities, known as the 'Angkor Wat of the North-East'.
Vaishno Devi Temple
The Vaishno Devi Temple, a sacred cave shrine situated in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, is one of India's most visited pilgrimage sites, where millions trek 12 km…
Sources & References
These records back the membership, dating and visitor guidance published on this Cave Temples in India page.
Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India — monument records and conservation reports
Protection status, dating, architectural classification and published conservation records for the monuments named on this page.
Primary archaeological record
Open source (opens in a new tab)Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Ministry of Tourism — official destination information
Official Government of India destination information — access, visitor circuits and travel guidance referenced on this page.
Government record
Open source (opens in a new tab)UNESCO World Heritage Centre
UNESCO World Heritage List — India
World Heritage inscription criteria, Outstanding Universal Value statements and the year of listing for the sites named on this page.
World Heritage documentation
Open source (opens in a new tab)INTACH
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Documentation of Indian architectural heritage and conservation practice behind the style descriptions on this page.
Reference source
Open source (opens in a new tab)
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