Lohani Caves, Mandu

The Lohani Caves, a set of rock-cut cave temples, lie near the abandoned city of Mandu in Dhar district, dated to about the 11th and 12th centuries. Archaeological work here has turned up Hindu sculpture, including figures of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu and Lakshmi, which suggests the caves were probably monasteries, most likely of the Shaiva tradition.

They lie close to a group of Islamic buildings put up after the 13th century. Together these Hindu and Muslim monuments of Mandu, about 300 km south-west of Bhopal, are on India's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status, and the caves are protected as a Monument of National Importance.