Ghoradeshvar/Shelaravadi (18.692408, 73.704039), located 29 km away from Pune city and 121 km away from Mumbai, is renowned for its late Hīnayāna rock-cut caves and its significance as a site of the Nātha cult. The site contains various Hīnayāna rock-cut caves that were potentially occupied by followers of the Nātha cult and Vārakarīs during medieval times.

A Hīnayāna Cave.

Inscriptions at the site and the presence of Śiva temples built on Buddhist stupas provide evidence of this. The Nātha ascetics may have established the Śiva liṅgas in the caves, as suggested by the presence of Bhairava temples and inscriptions mentioning names of Nātha followers.

A Śiva liṅga is installed in one of the caves.

One of the three Devanāgarī inscriptions at the site dates back to S.E. 1361 or 1439 A.D. and records the visit of a devotee. The word ‘Nāthū’ is clearly visible in this inscription. Additionally, an image of Bhairavanātha is found outside the cave. The Nātha ascetics still occupy this complex today.

The occupation of the Buddhist caves at Ghoraḍeśvara was likely done after the Buddhist religion disappeared from the region. It shows that the practitioners of this cult preferred their own establishments or deserted places that could be used for their rituals without interruption.

Nandī is placed in front of the cave in the later period.

A cave occupied by Vārakarīs.

Several followers of Śiva visit the site during Mahāśivarātri and the month of Śrāvana. The picturesque view around the hill also attracts tourists and devotees of the region.