Lying at the mouth of the Lidder Valley, the Cave Temple is one of the famous pilgrim spots on the left bank of the
Lidder River near Bawan in
Anantnag District,
Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is dedicated to Kaladeva.
Evidences reveal that the temple belongs to the 1st or 2nd century of the Christian era. This temple stands at the far end of a natural but artificially enlarged fissure in the limestone cliff. At the entrance of the cave, the carvings in the doorway show the architectural value of the temple. The 50 ft long, dark passage leads to the door of the temple. Flanked by two round headed niches, the square doorway is topped by a high triangular pediment reaching to the apex of the roof.
Nearby attractions are two temples about half a mile further up the valley at the foot of the cliff, and another cave.
By road, the cave temple can be accessed from Srinagar and Anantnag as there are regular bus services. Nearest railway station is at Jammu.
