Arvalem Caves / Pandava Caves, Panjim - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
#46 of 85 Places to Visit in Panjim
Distance (From Kadamba Bus Terminus): 29 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour
Place Location: Near Sanquelim Village, 1.3 Kms From Arvalem Falls
Transportation Options: Cab / Auto / Rental Bike
Travel Tips: 1. Arvalem Water Falls (1.3 kms) can also be visited from this Caves.
2. St. John of The Cross, Sanquelim(2.2 kms) can also be visited from this caves.
At a distance of 29 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 46 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway station and 9 km south of Bicholim, Arvalem caves are 6th century ancient rock cut caves situated in North Goa.
The Arvalem Caves are popularly known as ''Pandava Caves''. According to the history, the five Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata sought refuge in these caves during their exile. The Arvalem Caves are very much patterned in the Buddhist cave style. The architecture of the caves is simple yet appealing. The walls are plain with no paintings on them. The rock structure has been cut into laterite stone, with the sanctuary at the northern end and the vihara at the southern end. The mysterious look of the caves has been attracting the tourists over long years. The presence of the famous Rudreshwar temple and a waterfall in its vicinity, makes this place a must visit in Goa.
There are five compartments in the cave complex and the middle compartment enshrines the 'linga' held in great reverence by devotees. The shafts of the four crafted lingas are very similar to those that can be found in Elephanta, Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra. The Shivalinga in the second cave is engraved with an inscription written in Sanskrit and Brahmi characters of the 7th century. The Shivalinga and the inscription are assigned to the period of the Bhoja King Kapalivarman. The complex consists of two major caves and a residential chamber.
Timings: 9 am- 1 pm and 2 pm- 5 pm on all days.
