There is a bypass road that leads to the Arvalem caves just outside of the village of Sankelim. There are no articulated carvings or paintings in this cave, which was built in the sixth century. The existence of lingams does not support the assertion that these caves are a descendant of Brahmins, despite the fact that some people believe they were built by Buddhists.
They came to be known as the Pandava Caves because, according to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas ruled here during their 12-month exile. The four carved lingam trunks in the cave are similar to those in the famous Elephanta and Ellora caves. Buddhist caves and Arvalem caves are very similar.
A vihara and a sanctuary are located on the north and south ends of the laterite-carved rock. A large Buddha statue was found next to a Buddha from the fourth century that was found in Mamai Khamat’s house, which is now in the Goa State Museum.
This supports the claim that the cave is Buddhist in origin.