Pataleshwar Caves Travel Map

Pataleshwar Caves has a long history dating back to the 8th century AD. Situated just across the river on the Jungli Maharaj Road, the cave temple bears resemblance with the rock-cut temples of Ellora. Made out of a single hard rock, the temple has its main deity as Pataleshwar. The rock-cut cave temple was carved out in the 8th century AD, during the Rashtrakuta Period.Made of basalt rock, the cave temple is believed to have been cut out from a single rock. Presence of a cave in the vicinity of the temple has got it the name 'Pataleshwar Cave Temple'. A linga, the symbol of Shiva, is housed in the sanctum, which is a cube-shaped room about 3 to 4 metres high. On each side of the sanctum, two smaller cells are present.A circular Nandi Mandapa, with its umbrella shaped canopy supported by square pillars, is located in front of the cave. Due to a fault line found at the back of the sanctum sanctorum, which made additional sculpting unsafe, the temple was left incomplete. Outside the basalt entryway, a brass temple bell hangs. In the principle worship area, sculptures of Sita, Rama, Laxman and a host of other Hindu Gods and Goddesses are located.Near the temple lies a museum that is enlisted in the Guinness Book of World Records. A grain of rice that has around 5,000 characters inscribed on it is the prominent highlight of the museum. Adjacent to the temple is a temple dedicated to a Hindu ascetic.