- Karla Caves - The Karla Caves, Karli Caves, Karle Caves or Karla Cells, are a complex of ancient Buddhist Indian rock-cut caves at Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra. It is just 10.9 Kilometers away from Lonavala. The group at Karla is one of the older and smaller of the many rock-cut Buddhist sites in Maharashtra, but is one of the best-known because of the famous “Grand Chaitya”, which is “the largest and most completely preserved” chaitya hall of the period, as well as containing unusual quantities of fine sculpture, much of it on a large scale.
- Private transportation
- On-board WiFi
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Located proximate to Lonavala in Maharashtra, Karla and Bhaja Caves offer a historical journey back to the Hinayana phase of Buddhism dating back to the second to first century BC. Situated just 3 km off the main road amidst lush surroundings, the Bhaja caves primarily consist of Viharas and Chaityas. Nearby, there’s a waterfall where visitors can take a refreshing dip. Also in close proximity are the Lohagad and Visapur forts. As for the Karla Cave, it is recognized as India’s largest Hinayana Buddhist chaitya (temple) that was constructed during the reign of the Satavahana. An excellent specimen of rock-cut architecture, Karla is believed to have been carved from a living rock, with parts of its 2000-year-old wooden architecture still surviving. A steep climb of around 20 minutes leads to the Karla caves, housing a 45 meter (148-foot) long Chaitya, touted to be the best of its kind in the nation.
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