An ancient idol of Lord Ganesh can be seen near the foot-steps while climbing the Pateshwar hill. In the beginning there is a small lotus pond named “Vishveshwar”. On one of the walls of this pond a rare sculpture of Lord Shiva has been carved. This idol has only one leg. The route to reach the first set of caves passes nearby this pond. The first cave is called “Margal Mhashi” where a Shiv linga has been depicted on the back of a dead buffalo. This may have links with the story of the killing of Mahishasur mentioned in the holy books. Another six Shiv lings are there in the cave of a different design. Another five Shiv lingas here represent the five elements of nature i.e. Earth, Water, Space, Fire, Wind.
Nearby the pond the steps take us to Pateshwar temple and there are two Shiv lingas on the way. On one of the Shiv ling, there is a main ling carved in the middle and 68 other surrounding it. The other linga has been carved with a beard and moustache and 71 other lingas surrounding it. Further there is a group of five caves named “Balibhadra Temple Caves”. Adjacent to the Shiv ling here there are many shapes carved like Wheel, Heart, Circle etc., a total ten of them. Eight of them point to the eight directions and two of them represent sun and moon. Apart from this, there are many sculptures of Ashtamatruka, Dashavatara, Maheshwari, Sheshshahi Vishnu, Mahishasurmardini, Kartikeya, Chamunda, Navagrahas etc. another peculiar sculpture can be seen is that of “Agni-Vishnu” which comprises of a fusion between man and a bull with seven hands and weapons. If seen from the front a bearded figure can be seen and if seen from the side angle a bull’s face (Nandi) can be seen.
In the next verandah, there is a group of three caves. In the main cave there is sculpture of Goddess Parvati carved on the east wall. Adjacent to it there are 972 Shiv lingas which represent the 108 centers of the Goddess and each of it to be worshipped 9 times. On the south wall there is a sculpture of Lord Vishnu and 1000 lingas next to it. There is also a sculpture of the Sun God and 1000 lingas next to it. There are also sculptures of Bhalchandra, Shivaji and Lord Brahma, One, Four and Thousand faced Shiv lingas, Kaalsarpa here. A scripture in Devnagari / Sanskrit language is also there but it has become too faint to read.
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