Karad Caves

The Karad Caves are a group of 66 Buddhist caves about 5 km south-west of Karad in Satara district, near Jakhinwadi village and overlooking the Koyna River. They are spread over Agashiv hill and the land around Jakhinwadi, in clusters known as the Agashiv, Bhairav and Dongrai caves, with more in the valley.

Cut in the 1st century BC, the caves are very plain. The south-facing ones are the most important: Cave 5 bears some of the earliest Buddhist symbols, Cave 30 has more, and an inscription records a gift by Sanghamitra, son of Gopala. One cave is named after Chokhamela, who is said to have lived in it for about eight years.