3 new caves discovered in the Trirashmi Buddhist cave complex of Nashik

Recently, three more caves in Nashik hill have been found by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), after the discovery of Trirashmi Buddhist caves or the Pandav Leni by a British military officer.

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It is believed that these caves could be dwellings of Buddhist monks, and while their antiquity has not yet been determined, the archaeologists are of the opinion that these caves date back to before the Trirashmi caves.

All the caves have verandahs and the characteristic square stone platform for monks. There are special arrangements for monks to meditate, similar to the Kanheri and Wai caves.

The Trirashmi or Pandav Leni caves are a group of 25 caves that were carved out of Trirashmi Hill between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. The caves complex was documented in 1823.

It is now an ASI protected site and a tourist destination. The Buddhist sculptures and caves (in Nashik) are a early example of Indian rock-cut architecture representing the Hinayana tradition of Buddhism.