6 Caves near Pune to visit with your pets

Are you a pet owner looking for a unique adventure with your furry friend? Pune is not just known for its bustling city life but also for its stunning natural beauty and historical sites, including captivating caves. In this blog, we’ll uncover six pet-friendly caves near Pune that offer the perfect blend of exploration and quality time with your pets. From ancient rock formations to breathtaking landscapes, these caves promise a memorable outing for you and your four-legged companions. Get ready to pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable journey together!

Maan Caves

To reach the cave, you need to park near the local gym and begin your climb from behind it. This ancient Buddhist cave, located in Maan along the historic trade route from Tamhini to Pune, is a single stone-carved room used by monks, travelers, and traders for rest. Known as a rock-cut standalone ‘Vihar’ in Maan Gaon, the cave features carvings of ancient board games, including two Mancala and Wagh-Bakri, on the base floor. Locals from Maan refer to it as ‘PanchPandav Leni.’

Bhandara Buddhist caves

The route begins behind the first building on Bhandara Dongar, with a short 20-minute walk along an unpaved road. Follow the water pipeline to reach the site. There, you’ll find a cave that has been converted into a temple where Sant Tukaram Maharaj used to meditate. Next to this cave is another one, along with rock-cut water cisterns. As you continue further, you’ll come across a remarkable stupa carved from the rock, an impressive sight. Visiting during the monsoon is ideal for enjoying the scenic views. If you’re coming from the Talegaon side, you can also plan a stop at Induri Fort, as it is on the way to Bhandara Hill.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmoAQx43L1shpmWXA

Bhamchandra Caves

Bhamchandra Cave holds historical significance as poet Sant Tukaram used to meditate here. You can drive close to the base, just beyond Bhamchandra School, and it takes about 30 minutes to reach the top. The site features several small caves and temples. Be sure to bring your own food and water, as there are no facilities available. The best time to visit is during the monsoon or winter seasons. Nearby places to explore with your pets include Jadhavwadi dam, Bhama Askhed Dam , Bhandara Buddhist caves and  Firangai Devi Cave Temple.

Ghoradeshwar Caves

Ghoradeshwar and Shelarwadi Caves are a small group of rock-cut caves located about 32 km northwest of Pune, near the old Mumbai-Pune highway. There are multiple routes to climb the hill, with two being the most popular—one via stairs and the other through a hiking trail. If you’re coming from Pune, you’ll first encounter the hiking route on your left. Although this route is officially closed, with the entrance gate locked, people often park outside and climb over the gate to access it. The trail is easy, as many people hike it daily. At the top, there’s a vast plateau with a saffron flag flying high.

The second route is by stairs, which take you halfway up, after which a hiking trail leads to the temple. There are around 4-5 temples in total, including a Mahadev temple, Vitthal temple, and several Buddhist caves. Ghorawdeshwar is one of the three places where Sant Tukaram Maharaj used to meditate. You can also visit Kundmala, located just across the highway.

Pokhar trimurti cave

Located 9 km southeast of Saswad, just off the road to Purandar Fort, Pokhar Cave is one of the lesser-known rock-cut caves in Maharashtra. Though relatively obscure today, it was a sacred site for worship around 1,500 years ago. The cave, manmade and primarily used for meditation, once had an outer structure with walls and stairs leading to it.

Shirwal Buddhist cave

These historic Buddhist caves are located in Shirwal MIDC along the Pune-Satara road. A short 30-40 minute ascent leads to the caves, with a small pond on the right along the way, and a waterfall that appears during the rainy season. The caves at the top are not well-maintained, and one contains a “pind” of Lord Shiva. There are no food or water facilities near the hill, so it’s recommended to bring your own supplies. Eateries can only be found in Shirwal city. The hilltop offers stunning views, and an additional 30-40 minute climb rewards you with panoramic vistas of Shirwal city, Bhor city, Neera Dam, Bhatghar Dam, Wai, the highway, and Rohida Fort. It’s a quiet, isolated spot, so it’s best to visit on weekends with a large group. Mobile network is available.

Vrudeshwar Cave Mandir – Pune

Vrudeshwar Cave Mandir (also known as Vriddheshwar or Vriddheshvar) is located just 550 meters east of Senapati Bapat (SB) Road on the northeastern slopes of Hanuman Tekdi Hill. Despite its proximity, it remains largely unknown, even to many nearby residents. The site consists of two rock-cut temples built into the hillside, with several other excavations scattered around the area. A modern temple stands in the center of a paved courtyard in front. Further east along the ridge of Hanuman Tekdi Hill, there’s another rock-cut excavation now serving as a Hindu temple, which can only be reached by climbing a set of metal stairs.

Firangai Devi Cave Temple, Nanoli

Firangai Devi Cave Temple, a well-preserved historical site, is located in Nanoli Tarf Chakan along the Talegaon MIDC road in Pune. The hike to the temple from the parking area, situated behind the JCB assembly factory, is easy and takes about 30-40 minutes. The trail is wide and well-marked, with proper steps making the hike safe. Near the temple, you’ll find several small water tanks, and honeycombs are present nearby, so it’s best to avoid disturbing them. For those who enjoy hiking, you can take the right-side trail to reach the top of the hill. The vast plateau at the summit is quite windy and can become slippery during the rainy season.