While the original plan was to visit a couple of places in Kamshet we ended up spending most of the day at Bedse caves. The caves are a short 450 step climb away. So, after parking our car at the base we had a home cooked meal at a nice homestay before heading up. It’s the closest one to the caves and if you fancy a stay, I recommend this place which also has its own swimming pool.
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This was the first time my 2.5-year-old would attempt a climb of any significant height and I was dreading an outcome where I would have to carry him from time to time. He aced his first attempt and in what was a bit of an embarrassment for us my senior mom and son together made their way to the top without pause, while me and my wife had to take a few breaks as we huffed and puffed our way to the top.
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There is something about those simple Buddhist structures that exude waves of peace. There were not too many visitors, so we were afforded some measure of silence as I pondered how so many centuries ago craftsmen managed to carve out these expansive spaces and intricate patterns out of monolithic rocks.
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Amidst all these beautiful forms, function was never forgotten. The caves are designed to maximize the utility of natural light while remaining cool on the inside. There was even a hole which provided access to drinking water.
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Whenever I stand among places like this, I begin to imagine what it would feel like to have breathed and lived in an age like that.