The Triraśmi Caves (also known as the Pandu Caves), located around 8 km south of Nashik, Maharashtra, India, are a group of 24 caves carved between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE, representing the early phase of development in Buddhism. Most of the caves are vihāras except for the 18th cave which is a Chaitya hall.

The caves were carved out for Buddhist monks with the help of donations by Buddhist Kings, merchants and local people. The name is derived from the word "Tiranhu" which is inscribed in the caves. It means "rays of sunlight", and refers to the rays of sunlight emerging from behind the caves as seen from the village.

India has approx. 1100 caves out of which 900 are found in Maharashtra. The Triraśmi caves is one of the oldest complexes carved between 2nd BCE to 5th CE. The inscriptions in all these caves are written in Dhammalipi script and the language is Prakrit. Emperor Aśoka was the first to write inscriptions in Dhammalipi.

The various inscriptions, which are extensive and of great importance historically, confirm that Nashik in that period was ruled by 3 dynasties – the Western Kṣatrāpas, the Śātavāhanas and the Abhiras. It seems there was always a conflict between them over supremacy, but all three dynasties fully supported Buddhism. The inscriptions confirm that apart from the kings, local merchants, landlords and others also supported and donated large sums for the development of these caves.

The inscriptions in cave no.10 reveal that in 105-106 BC, the Kṣatrāpas defeated the Śātavāhanas after which Kṣatrāpa Nahāpana’s son-in-law and Dinika’s son, Uṣavadata donated 3000 gold coins for this cave as well as for the food and clothing of the monks. Uṣavadata’s wife (Nahāpana’s daughter), Dakṣamitra also donated a cave for the Buddhist monks.

The caves are one of the oldest cave groups in Maharashtra. Some of the caves are large and contain numerous cells. These rock-cut caves served as vihāras or monasteries for the monastics. The caves house statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and various deities. Some caves are intricately connected by stone-cut stairways that join them to the other caves.

The site also has an excellent ancient water management system that is skilfully chiselled out of solid rock and there are several cisterns around the site.