People have asked me lots of times – whats there in Nashik, have you traveled? well, Pandavleni is one of those places in Nashik that you must visit. Pandavleni is just within 15minutes walking distance from my current residency in Nashik.
Nashik is a very beautiful city. Lots of green pastures, country roads, small hills (Also we can call them ‘Tilla’), Orchards, Vineyards, and much more waterfalls and forts. So if you ask me what to visit in Nashik – I’ll probably say there are a lot of places to visit. Just because of its a mall city, just do not think you’ll end up being bored.
Being a part of the full-time MBA curriculum, it is a necessity to find some relaxation into hills. Now, if you’re a ‘Himalaya people’, then buddy stay strong. Himalayan experience can’t be replaced with something else, because I belong to the same category. Yeah! But there are plenty of surprises are here in Nashik. They are not full-fledged extensive trek, rather quite refreshing, easy-going, one day trek that you can have with your friends with just a one hour notice. Now I’m coming to the most important part of this article: Pandavleni.
What is Pandavleni & why to go there?
Credits: http://travelzunlimited.blogspot.com
Located about 8 kilometers to the south of the center of Nashik in Maharashtra in India, the Pandavleni Caves are ancient rock-cut caves that are situated on the tableland of the Trivashmi Hills. These caves have existed for more than 2000 years now and date back to the period between the 3rd century BC and 2nd century AD. Interestingly, these caves hold their importance and value to date. The Pandavleni caves are a group of 24 caves that represent Hinayana Buddhism.
The mystic caves also comprise of musical fountains, museums and various outlets of food. Multiple monasteries, shrines, water tanks, pillars, and carvings can also be found inside. So, now you are thinking maybe you’re not an art/sculpture loving person, so why to go there? Honestly, you can hike the hills too to reach the peak, from where you can watch the whole Nashik city at a glance. Tourists have to climb nearly 200 steps to reach the top and enjoy the breathtaking views. People also visit this attraction frequently to enjoy trekking.
Pandavleni Caves,, Nashik
credits: http://travelzunlimited.blogspot.com
How to Reach Pandavleni Caves
How to Reach Pandavleni Caves Peak
Now, it’s a fun time, whenever someone asks me how to reach the peak. well, there are two ways to reach to the peak:
- Conventional way: Sorry to say this route is already built with stones. so if you’ve adventure within you, but not sure about how to get to the Top, then probably this will help you. This is an easy route where you have to cross some relatively fewer numbers of hurdles, less slippery. You can surely give this a shot.
- Adventurous way: Like every place, I did non-conventional stressful trekking here. Some people might laugh at this- what could be stressful in Pandavleni. But honestly, guys, if anyone is rookie this route might end up being tired. This one starts from the extreme right end of the fences. You’ve to cross the barrier to start this trek (It’s not advisable, just do it in your risk).
Pandavleni Caves, Nashik By Tanmoy Biswas
So, with your own risk, you have reached to this level. Well enough bravery! Now serious stuff! Wear some decent shoes – having some decent grip, so that you’ll not lose your steps. Otherwise, I’ve found almost everyone slipping down from the trail. Now, another alert! No trail exists. If you often do treks, you’ll get some understanding that what route you should take. In the whole journey, you’ll think as if you’re making a round trip. In the very initial 30 minutes, you’ll watch a fantastic view of the Nashik city from that height. So the cool breeze, light music (provided that you’re carrying a small speaker/ earphones) will soothe you. But the turning point will appear at a later stage.
Suddenly after having a 90 degree turning you’ll be not only fatigued, rather confused. Whether you’re going through the right way or you’re in the middle of nowhere. So your inner zeal will start shouting at you, and you might feel breaking down into pieces. But my friend, do not be so! These particular part of the trek is very slow. You might have to showcase your skill sets with legs, footsteps. This situation can even be worse if you plan to make it in the rainy season. Or just after the rainy season. Because the tender leaves will hide the ways. You’ll start worrying whether you’re stepping on the ground or not. There will be lots of narrow, sharp turnings.
Sometimes you have to bend your knees, sometimes you’ve to align your body just holding some bushes. So definitely there will be challenges. While crossing those points, do not ever look down to your right. It’s a very straight and flat slope there. If you slip, you’ll roll down to the bottom. Then Either you’ll blame your friend or blame yourself if going alone. Do not blame me.
After 30 more minutes, you’ll suddenly get some decent ground, rather than those risky way outs. You’ll be happy as well as tired. Because you’ll just find the top of the hill from that point. Till now the whole journey was horizontal. Suddenly you’ll feel that you’ve to climb vertically. It will be another test for you. Because after so much of trekking, you might not end up like this. So if you want to reach the top, you’ll start to climb. Else take the straight way opposite from where you were coming. This way is rather well constructed and connects to the conventional way to the caves. So it’s a 360-degree round trip. You just start your trek from a point, then turn and turn and turn anti-clockwise to reach the same point finally.
Pandavleni conventional way, photo: holidayiq.com
The peak is very narrow and there’s a bench placed for sitting. you can climb down by taking the same route. After reaching to the base of the hill, get some water, juice to pamper yourself.
Pandavleni Caves trekking takes 3-4 hours, if done in off route. So get prepared with your fitness, shoes any day & experience this amazing one day trek in Nashik.
If you want to know more about the caves, please visit Travelz Unlimited.