बाणेश्वर गुफा मंदिर

Baneshwar Cave Temple


Useful Information

Location: 12, Baner Gaon, Baner, Pune, 411045.
(18.558837, 73.787059)
Open: All year daily 6-20.
[2025]
Fee: free.
[2025]
Classification: SubterraneaCave Church
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Baneshwar Cave Temple, 12, Baner Gaon, Baner, Pune, 411045, Tel: +91-99229-22216.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

बाणेश्वर गुफा मंदिर (Baneshwar Cave Temple) is officially named श्री बाणेश्वर मंदिर (Shri Baneshwar Temple). According to local lore, this cave was the hiding place of the Pandavas, five legendary brothers who are the central characters of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. According to the "legendary" history of India, this was 5,000 years ago. Its unclear how old the temple is, actually it’s impossible to determine the age with scientific means. Some believe it was built in the 8th century during the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Other say that the temple was built sometime during the 13th century BC. This is the early Jorwe Culture, a Chalcolithic archaeological culture which was an early farming culture, but as they already knew iron they were actually Iron Age. And some say it was founded during the reign of Rashtrkut Raja some 2,500 years ago.

A narrowgorge leads to the low entrance. The cave has a single chamber with a flat and low ceiling. As it is a Hindu temple, it has a Shiva Linga, an abstract representation of the Hindu god Shiva. There are also a number of victory pillars or hero stones or Virgals believed to be around 700 to 800 years old.

Be aware that this is not a tourist site, it’s a temple, and as such it is open daily for free. Pleas do not disturb worshippers, clothe and behave respectful.