[1][3][4] Two of the central cells of Cave 7 – originally a Buddhist vihara – were at an unknown later date appropriated for the worship of the Hindu god Ganesha.

In regional mythology, this is the Girijatmaja cave where goddess Parvati desired to be a mother and where Ganesha was born.

[8] It is also approached through Nanaghat, which was originally on the trade route between Aparantaka or the northern Konkan and the Deccan and descending to the plains of the Junnar town.

The circular hill, where Lenyadri caves have been emboweled, raises about 30 metres (98 ft) above the plains in the Hatkeshwar and Suleiman ranges.

[12] The Ganesha temple is located in Cave 7, the largest excavation around Junnar, about 30 metres (98 ft) above the plains.

[10] The veranda has six pillars and two pilasters (half-pillars), that support "an architrave from which projects eaves relieved with a railing resting on beams and rafters".

[1][3] In a later period, the two central cells of the rear wall have been combined by breaking the partition in between to house the Ganesha image.

The hall also has traces of plaster and paintings,[1] both added during the conversion and renewed in later times - possibly as late as the 19th century.

The paintings depicted Ganesha's childhood, marriage preparations, battle with demons and so forth, along with scenes of other Hindu deities like Devi, Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva.

The features of the Ganesha icon, seen on the back wall of the cave, are the least distinct vis-a-vis the other Ashtavinayak temples.

After it was removed, Ganesha could be seen with his trunk turned to the left side, facing east, with one of his eyes visible.

Like all Ashtavinayaka temples, the central Ganesha image is believed to be svayambhu (self-existent), a naturally occurring stone formation resembling an elephant-face.

Desiring to have a son, Parvati underwent austerities meditating on Ganesha, for twelve years at Lenyadri.

Shiva gave him a boon that whosoever remembers him before starting a job, will successfully complete that task.

At the age of six, the architect-god Vishwakarma worshipped Gunesha and endowed him with the weapons Pasha (noose), Parashu (axe), Ankusha (hook) and Padma (Lotus).

It has a row of five pillars and one pilaster on each side of the chaitya or Dagoba or stupa (central relic-shrine), located at the rear of the hall.

A start was made on a typical large arched window above the entrance, but this was never completed, and remains a blind recess.

The Satakarni period pillars begin with a four-plated pyramid structure, then a waterpot base, followed by an eight-sided shaft, above a reversed pot, then a capital in five plates, and on the top the amalaka or cogwheel pattern.

A 2nd century, swastika-flanked inscription on the back wall of the veranda translates: "A meritorious gift of a chapel cave by the distinguished Sulasadata, son of Heranika of Kalyana [modern Kalyan near Mumbai].

"[1][3] Between caves 5 and 6, on higher level, is an excavation originally intended either for a dwelling or for a seat, but converted into a cistern following discovery of a rock-fault.

The pillars of the veranda consist of octagonal shafts resting on ghata base over a stepped pedestal.

The inscription translates as: "A meritorious gift of a chapel cave given by Ananda, a son of Tapasa and grandson of Upasaka.

In the back wall of the veranda, to the left of the door to the middle hall, close under the broken verandah ceiling, is a single line inscription, flanked by the Buddhist trident in the beginning and swastika at the end.

It has its own open veranda, which has a partly broken floor and ceiling and recessed benches on the left and right of the door to the middle room.

The floor of the cave has a coating of cement, while the ceiling of the middle room bears painted concentric circles.

An entry through a grooved door gives access to a long corridor and in the back wall of which is an inscription that discloses the name of the donor and the monastic order.

[3] Cave 23 has two dwelling units with a long passage with shallow niches with seating provisions on the left wall.

These rooms also have seating arrangements in niches which display irregular excavations denoting poor condition of the rock, which probably stopped further work on this cave.

[3] Passing round the east end of the hill, after a walk of fully a 1.61 kilometres (1.00 mi), or about 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) from the town, in another spur of the Sulaiman Pahar, is a group of caves in the face of the hill, 120 metres (390 ft) above the level of Junnar, and facing S.S.W.

They are usually represented as inaccessible, from the precipice in front of them being almost perpendicular; they are very difficult of access, and dangerous to attempt for any one not accustomed to climbing.