As varied as the cultures, are the landscapes of India, and among the most enigmatic natural and historical wonders of the country are the various caves which can be found in India. More than just a geological wonder, caves in India can be considered the chosen art medium of the history, spirituality and culture.
Be it a history buff, curious traveler, or adventurer; taking the trip into these cave wonders is an adventure unlike any other. And the great thing is? There are cheap flight options and easy flight booking so that even with a limited budget you can buy a plane ticket and fly to the nearest town and start your underground adventure.
Here are some of the most wondrous cave in India you must visit:
1. Ajanta Ellora Caves, Maharashtra- Beautiful Timeless Masterpieces
The best known caves in India are probably the Ajanta and Ellora caves. 2nd-century BCE Buddhist murals and rock-cut sculptures in Ajanta and 34 caves with Hindu, Jain and Buddhist monuments in Ellora escort readers through Jatka stories. The feature that attracts the most attention is the Kailasa Temple, which was constructed out of one rock and to this day impresses the people who visit it.
Closest airport: Aurangabad, which is accessible through a considerable number of cheap flights. In a single flight reservation, you would be able to go and experience this UNESCO World Heritage site.
2. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra- The Island of Mystical Sculptures
The Elephanta Caves can be found located calmly on Elephanta Island just a ferry ride away of Mumbai. These caves are quite popular over the colossal sculptures that worship Lord Shiva notably the three-headed Maheshmurti. The island in itself, is an ideal means of escape, full of monkeys, vegetation and the Arabian Sea.
This is reached conveniently by air flight as well as boat ride. It is one of the openly-accessible cave miracles in India.
3. Badami Caves, Karnataka, chalukyan sculptures of the Chalukyan era
The Badami caves are carved in between the red sandstone cliffs signifying the magnificence of Chalukya kingdom. Offering deities of Vishnu, Shiva, and Jain Tirthankara, carved in exquisite designs these 6 th -century caves are sacred as well as artistic. The scenario that presents itself to the eye at the caves overlooking the Agastya Lake complements the magic.
Fly into Hubli or Belgaum with a low cost air travel ticket and you will need a very short drive to reach these architectural wonders.
4. Borra Caves, Andhra Pradesh -Art of Nature
Borra Caves also differ with man-made cave temples because they are natural limestone caves found hidden in Ananthagiri Hills. Stalactites and stalagmites are strange shapes that are formed menacingly yet attractively and there are some that have been made out to resemble deities or animals by the locals. The Borra Caves are other worldly with cool air, shiny lights and mythologies that surround these caves.
The closest airport is Visakhapatnam One of the most beautiful caves of India will be within your reach once you have made a quick flight booking here.
5. Marnath Cave, Jammu and Kashmir- Heaven to Pilgrims
The Amarnath Cave is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites to those who practice the worship to Lord Shiva. The cave contains naturally formed ice Shiva Linga, which attracts pilgrims by the thousands each year in the course of Amarnath Yatra. The trekking with its difficult terrains is not easy however, the spiritual energy of the cave is worthwhile.
Nearest airport: Srinagar, with several flights inside the country. Book your cheap flight booking early, since traveller traffic peaks during the Yatra time.
6. Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Odisha- The resounding accolades of Jain heritage
These caves are a heritage of Jain with carvings done during the period of King Kharavela in the 2 nd century BCE. The caves feature inscriptions, carvings, and meditation cells all of which help understand life and practices of the monks many centuries ago. History and spirituality combined make them unlike others of the cave sites in India.
With a cheap flight to Bhubaneswar you are in reach of the city with a quick drive distance.
7. Mawsmai Caves, Meghalaya -The Dream Hole Adventure below
The state of Meghalaya, or the Abode of Clouds, has much more secrets underneath the surface-the Mawsmai Caves near Cherrapunji is one of the most available ones. These are limestone caves which teem with narrow tunnels, trickling stalactites and a play of artificial and natural light and shade. Some areas are lit to give the visitors the view and other areas give the visitor the excitement of exploring nature.
There is no airport near but the nearest one is Shillong or Guwahati.
8. Edakkal Caves, Kerala- Prehistoric Rock paintings found on walls
Edakkal Caves are not caves at all, but natural crevices, in the rocks high up the hills of Wayanad. What is special about them are the petroglyphs- ancient carvings dated back to 6,000 BCE. The hike to the caves is picturesque and being in front of the wall graffiti makes it feel that we are meeting the earliest narrators of India.
Nearest airport: Calicut (Kozhikode) a few flight booking steps away.
Why Visit the Caves in India?
Caves are not always segments of hollow rocks, but they are pieces of living history books and natural museums. Some tell the stories of kings, deities, and ancient cultures, others of the gradual work of nature in a time span of millions of years. Discovering them is more than an adventure, it is an opportunity to get more in touch with the varied history of India.
And, with the modern connectivity, you do not need to think about distance. Cheap flight routes around India also make a cave-hopping tour easier to plan than ever. To visit a place beneath the ground, it is only necessary to pop just one flight ticket.
Final Thoughts
The beauty can be found hidden underground and above the surface as the cave wonders of India testify. Spread across the mysteries of Amarnath to the art saavy Ajanta, each cave promises to be an adventure filled with a mixture of history, mysticism and spirituality.
So the next time you are checking in on flights, do not only think of beaches or mountains but consider taking up that low-cost flight to the nearest cave spot. Because buried somewhere in the rocks of India are stories that the earth has taken its time to tell you.