Shivleni Caves, Ambajogai

The Shivleni Caves, also called Jogai Mandap or Hattikhana, are rock-cut cave temples at Ambajogai, cut deep into a hill on the bank of the Jayvanti river, less than half a kilometre north-west of the Yogeshvari Temple. They are linked to King Udayaditya of the Paramara dynasty of Malwa: an inscription dated Saka 1066 records his grant of villages for their upkeep, and it is now kept at the Tahsildar's office in Ambajogai.

The entrance lies on the south side of the hill. Within, a Nandi mandap of 9.14 by 9.14 m stands in the centre of a courtyard, and one hall rests on 32 pillars, with sculptures of Shiva and Ganesha; the Saptamatrikas also appear, and carved elephants surround Shiva. Local belief holds that this was to be the wedding hall of the goddess Jogai, and that when the wedding failed, the elephants and everything else turned to stone. The caves are a state-protected monument.