Pandav Caves - History, Timings & Entry Fee

Historical

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Pachmarhi Bus Station): 2 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins - 1 Hr

Transportation Options: Cab / Walk/Trek

Travel Tips: For people who are interested in sightseeing around Pachmarhi, the guests are required to take a day visit permit from Bison Lodge Museum. Moreover, the tourists also need to travel by local jeeps as cars brought from outside cannot be used at this place.

At a distance of 2 km from Pachmarhi Bus Station, Pandava Caves are ancient caves located in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on a hillock, it is one of the must-visit tourist places in Pachmarhi.

Pandav Caves is a group of five-rock cut temples adorned with naturally grown gardens and roughly carved columns and pilasters and is among the most sought-after Pachmarhi places to visit. According to the legend, these caves are believed to provide shelter to the Pandavas during their exile period. These attractive caves are shrouded with many stories belonging to various eras and were lastly hewn by Buddhist monks who used these caves for meditation during the 1st century AD. It is now a protected monument and tourists flock from all over India to see this place.

According to the legend, these five caves were made for each of the brothers - Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Nakul, Sahdeo, Bhima, and for their wife - Draupadi. Amongst all the five caves, 'Draupadi Kuti' is the cleanest and well-ventilated. Bhim Kothari, which was the cave of Bhima, the toughest of five brothers, is the darkest cave. These temples are still adorned with beautiful sculptures and carvings. These Caves have even given the name to the town - 'Panchmarhi' can be translated like 'five caves' or also 'five huts'.

Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free