Basohli is situated on a low spur over-looking the Ravi where it emerges from the mountains into the plain. There are a number of caves above the right bank. The most prominent of these is known as the Visvesvara Cave. The cave was so named after Raja Visva Raina, the reputed founder of Basohli – Visalaya.
“The cave of Visvesvara is the largest excavation of the set and consists of two chambers, the outer one of which is 11 feet square and 8 feet 3” in height. From the ceiling hangs a brass bell suspended from an iron hook embedded in the rock.
Admittance to the inner cave is gained by a low doorway in the northern wall. The ceiling is slightly domed. In the middle of it is a Shiva Linga on a circular pitha carved out of the rock. There is a small marble image of Annapurna. The figure is 8-armed. Below it are a couple of other crude figures, one of whom seems to be a Rakshasa and the other a lion.
Below this cave is a large mutilated figure of a caparisoned bull. A few steps to the north of the bull is a rock in which has been excavated a small cave. This also contains a small linga on a pitha. On the wall forming the entrance are two figures, probably Shiva and his consort. On the left wall is the four-faced bearded figure of Brahma standing between two bulls. On the right wall are three figures: the central one is seated and probably represents Shiva, and the side ones are chauri-bearers, a male to the right and a female to the left.
On the face of the rock outside are carved two figures, one of Hanuman holding a mace, the other of Nandi. A few more paces to the north is the figure of four-armed Bhairava carved on the face of a rock. In his lower right hand he bears an upraised sword, and in his left hand a mace and a trident. On the way down to the river are a few other caves carved out of sandstone rocks. One fairly well frequented is that of Sitala, the goddess of small pox.
A 6-foot human figure in the cave is regarded as the image of Vishwakarma, the traditional founder of all crafts and of the town of Basohli itself. Some regard it as the figure of Raja Bhupat Pal (1598-1635 A.D.)
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