KONDANE CAVES
18.816700,73.400000
Description
Four man-made, rock-cut chambers (rock temples used for religious purposes), including one »chaitya cave« (WEST 1861a: 14 item 64) containing an inscription (note 1), are situated at the village of »Kondane« (note 2) near the Bor Ghat (Bhor Ghat, Bhore Ghat, Bhore Gaut, Borghat, Borghata hills). SITUATION 1882: »The caves at Kondané, Jambroog, and Ambivalé, are in the lower scarps of the Sahyadris, near Karjat railway station (in Ahmednagar)« (SMITH, G 1882: 276). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1880: NOT SEEN: BURGESS & FERGUSSON (1880 edited1988: 220-223, plate VII, fig. 2, plate VIII). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1908: »There are four caves, including one chaitya or shrine; and an inscription on one of them, attributed to the second century B.C., runs: 'Made by Balaka, the pupil of Kanha (Krishna).' The caves are fully described in the Thana District Gazetteer« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 15: 392-393). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1939: NOT SEEN: BROWN, P (1939).
NOTE 1: WEST (1861a: 14 item 64) refers to rock art (epigraphy) in the shape of »an inscription on the rock to the right of the colossal figure, on the left-hand side of the entrance to the chaitya at Kondana, near the Bhore Ghaut, would appear, from the shape of the letters, to be older than the inscriptions at Kánheri.« NOTE 2: »Kondana« (WEST 1861a: 14 item 64) is indicated as »Kondane« near N18°49': E073°24' on AMS sheet NE43-05 Bombay (U502 series, 1960 edition). »Kondane.-- Village in the Karjat taluka of Kolaba District, Bombay, situated in 18° 49' N. and 73° 24' E., about 4 miles [6.4 km or so] south-east of Karjat [N18°55': E073°20'] on the south-eastern line of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and at the base of Rajmachi hill« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 15: 392).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | KHANDALA RAILWAY TUNNEL | ||
| 6.6 | LOHOGAD CAVES | ||
| 6.6 | KHANDALA SUBTERRANEAN PALACE | ||
| 6.6 | KHANDALA PIPE TUNNEL | ||
| 7.6 | BHAJA CAVE | ||
| 7.6 | LONAVLA UNDERGROUND | ||
| 7.6 | TUNNEL, Lonavla (Sarkar et al. 1998) (aa -) | ||
| 7.6 | KANHUR PATHAR CAVE | ||
| 7.9 | KARLA (Cave at) |