The short answer
Junnar Buddhist Caves: Manmodi and Tulja: what visitors should know first
Go if you like rock-cut architecture and want a quiet, rewarding outing. Combine them with Lenyadri in a morning. Some groups need a short climb and have no facilities, so go early with water.
History and context
The story behind Junnar Buddhist Caves: Manmodi and Tulja
Manmodi has three groups, Bhutalinga, Amba-Ambika and Bhimashankar. A Brahmi inscription on the chaitya facade, dated to about 120 CE, records the gift of a Yavana named Chanda. An inscription by a minister of the Western Satrap ruler Nahapana is dated Saka year 46, or 124 CE. The Tulja chaitya is described as excavated around 50 BC.
Useful facts
Junnar Buddhist Caves: Manmodi and Tulja facts at a glance
- Location
- Hills around Junnar, Pune district
- Experience type
- Rock-cut Buddhist and Jain caves
- Known for
- Yavana inscription, round chaitya
- Manmodi
- Three groups about 3 km south of Junnar
- Tulja
- 14 caves about 4 km west of Junnar
- Dates
- About 1st century BC to 3rd century AD
Why it matters
Why Junnar Buddhist Caves: Manmodi and Tulja is worth your time
Junnar has more than 220 rock-cut caves on four hills, dating roughly from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, which makes it one of the largest cave clusters in India. Their existence reflects Junnar's role as a trading town on the Konkan-Deccan route, with merchants and monks funding monasteries.
It matters because the inscriptions show the wide world that touched this place. A Yavana donor at Manmodi, and an inscription by a minister of the Western Satrap ruler Nahapana, show Greek and Satrap connections to the local Buddhist community. The Tulja chaitya, dated to about 50 BC, is among the earliest in the area.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Bhutalinga facade
A horseshoe arch and a Greek donor's inscription.
- 02
Tulja round chaitya
A circular hall with twelve pillars around a stupa.
- 03
Amba-Ambika group
Unfinished chaitya and Jain cells dedicated to Ambika.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Treat the caves as two or three short visits rather than one long walk. The Manmodi hill, about 3 km south of Junnar, has three groups: Bhutalinga, Amba-Ambika and Bhimashankar. The Bhutalinga group is the westernmost, with an unfinished chaitya hall whose carved facade has a horseshoe arch. A Brahmi inscription records that a Yavana, or Greek, donor named Chanda paid for the facade.
The Tulja caves, about 4 km west of Junnar, are a smaller group with 14 caves. The star is a round chaitya hall with a stupa at its centre, ringed by twelve plain octagonal pillars that support the dome. Cave 4 is used as a temple to the goddess Tulja Devi.
Bring water, wear shoes with grip, and ask locally for the path to each group. Leave one cave group for another day rather than rushing; the finest detail is easy to miss at speed.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Start early and carry water
- Wear shoes with grip
- Ask locally for the path
- Pair with Lenyadri
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Hills around Junnar: Manmodi about 3 km south, Tulja about 4 km west
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- October to February, morning
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Each group involves short climbs and uneven rock steps, with little shade or seating. Older visitors can choose a single group and take it slowly, and should avoid the hot hours.
- Tickets and access
- These are protected rock-cut monuments. Fees and timings are not published here; check locally and respect any notices.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Junnar Buddhist Caves: Manmodi and Tulja
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Each group involves short climbs and uneven rock steps, with little shade or seating. Older visitors can choose a single group and take it slowly, and should avoid the hot hours.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How many caves are there?
Reports put the count at more than 220 across four hills; the groups you can visit are Manmodi, Tulja, Lenyadri and the Shivneri hill caves.
Which is the best single group?
The Tulja caves for the round chaitya, or Manmodi's Bhutalinga for the facade.
Are there guides?
Not formally. Ask locally or go with a driver who knows the paths.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
