Carved almost 2000 years ago, about 160 B.C. the Karla Caves are symbolic remnants of a forgotten era of Buddhist culture and history.

Located in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and about 114 kms away from Mumbai, the Karla caves have a grand collection of carvings and statues and a large number of Buddhist Chaityas that are as elegant and exquisite as those found at Ajanta and Ellora caves although not as famous.

The Karla caves are located about 12 kms from Lonavala station, the popular hill-station in the ghats and can be approached with the help of S.T. buses or one may even hire a bicycle or a taxi depending upon how one wishes to enjoy the trip. To reach the caves on the hilltop, one needs to trek about 600 feet. Carrying enough drinking water is recommended.

The Viharas or monasteries that were used by the Buddhist monks seeking refuge during the monsoons seem to be carved entirely out of massive rocks.

A temple dedicated to Goddess Ekvira is situated at the entrance to the principal cave on the right side. A lofty column with three lions on its top is to the left of the entrance. This temple sees hundreds of devotees, especially from the coastal regions, during the annual fair in the month of Chaitra (April) and during the Navratri festival.

The main cave is about 15 metres wide and 16 metres high. Even after a period of 2000 years, there is no sign of corrosion in the arched roof of this cave, which is supported by wooden beams that have borne the brunt of all the extreme seasonal changes over such a long period of time.

This great hall also has 37 columns of which 30 of them are adorned with carvings depicting rich men and women riding elephants or horses, all bowing to the Great Buddha. The simplicity of the place is the key to its grandeur, enough to take one’s breath away.

The surroundings now only bear testimony to the smaller caves and resting places of the Buddhist monks and it does pain one to see the kind of havoc created by the elements there and little or no maintenance in place to take care of what is left. However, efforts are on to keep the beauty of the place intact.

Bhaje caves are about 3 kms away from the main road near Karla caves. They are 18 in number and are said to belong to the time around 200 B.C. Of the 18 caves, 10 of them are Viharas and the rest are Chaityas very much similar to those one finds at Karla.

Another important feature of the Bhaje caves are the 14 Stupas that are located about 50 metres away from the main caves. The structure of the Stupas is both awe-inspiring and strange. The arrangement of the Stupas is such that there are five inside and nine stupas outside the caves. There are some sculptures visible in the last cave on the South side.

A waterfall located barely a few minutes away makes for a good swim and also offers a good view of some of the old forts nearby.

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