Mystery Caves in the Sahyadris


Scattered throughout the Sahyadri mountains are some of the most intriguing relics from ancient history - large cave complexes from the early Buddhist period. These huge caves are an engineering marvel in themselves, having been constructed using nothing more than simple hand tools. But there is something else that is a lot more mysterious.


Today these caves, with names like Karla, Bhaja, Kanheri, Bedse and others, exist in quiet desolation or are swarming with noisy tourists. It is hard to imagine that two thousand years ago, the very same places were the centers of learning of international repute.

It takes a powerful imagination to visualize these sites at the height of their grandeur, when monks from far-off lands came to study from spiritual masters on a subject so complex that only a few understand it thoroughly even today. A subject that was considered so important by some that they gave up everything they had - families, possessions, wealth - just to spend the rest of their lives devoted to seeking a special kind of knowledge. Only the silent rocks bear testimony to what transpired in these caves in the distant past.

If you have read this far without having hit the 'back' button, you must be a very curious person like me, who believes hiking is only one of the manifestations of this strange desire of exploration for its own sake. Surprisingly, as I have found in the past, most people do not fit into this category. Keep reading on, because I too stumbled into the information to follow out of nothing but curiosity.

The link provided at the bottom of this page takes you to an external website where a number of books in English are available for free download. These are books on the essence of Buddhist philosophy and probably will provide you with some clues into the most intriguing mystery of these Sahyadri caves - the nature of the knowledge that was obtained and transferred within their confines.


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