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Rivona Buddhist Caves

by | Oct 20, 2026

From inside the Rivona Buddhist Caves — the dark laterite mouth framing trees and sky, with a lone figure for scale, South Goa
From inside the Rivona Buddhist Caves — the dark laterite mouth framing trees and sky, with a lone figure for scale, South Goa

Where

Rivona village, South Goa

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Good to know

  • A village heritage site with no formal ticketing, and opening hours are unconfirmed — be prepared for a simple, unstaffed visit and check locally if you can
  • The caves pair naturally with the Usgalimal Petroglyphs and Netravali on an inland day
From inside the Rivona Buddhist Caves — the dark laterite mouth framing trees and sky, with a lone figure for scale, South Goa
Outside the Rivona Buddhist Caves — the laterite cutting and footpath under the trees, South Goa

About Rivona Buddhist Caves

Laterite caves attributed to Buddhist monks of the 6th–7th century, with a carved teacher's seat (pitha); local tradition also links them to the Pandavas' exile. A small, cool, quietly fascinating stop that pairs naturally with Usgalimal and Netravali on an inland day.

Why visit: evidence of a Goa far older than the Portuguese era — a small, cool, quietly fascinating stop.

Photos: Fredericknoronha (CC BY-SA 4.0) and KanakaD (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons.