Lenyadri, Buddhist caves in Maharashtra, India
Lenyadri is a rock-cut cave complex near Pune containing 30 chambers carved into natural stone cliffs. The site features meditation halls, residential rooms, and two prayer halls with contrasting architectural styles, one with pillars and another with a flat roof design.
Buddhist monks carved these caves between the 1st century BCE and 3rd century CE as monastic dwellings and religious spaces along the Kukadi River. Over centuries, the complex became a religious center that adapted to new spiritual traditions in the region.
Cave 7 evolved from a Buddhist meditation space into a Hindu temple honoring Ganesha, now forming part of a sacred pilgrimage route that connects multiple shrines across the region.
Reaching the cave complex involves climbing roughly 300 stone steps built into the cliff face. The site welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset daily throughout the year without seasonal closures.
The complex holds two prayer halls with strikingly different designs from separate construction periods. One preserves classical pillar structure while the other features an unusual flat roof design.
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