The Karla Caves or Karle Caves are a complex of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut cave shrines developed over two periods – from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD, and from the 5th century AD to the 10th century. The oldest of the cave shrines is believed to date back to 160 BC. Located in Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra, the caves lie near a major ancient trade route, running eastward from the Arabian Sea into the Deccan. Karli's location in Maharashtra places it in a region that marks the division between North India and South India.[1] Buddhists, having become identified with commerce and manufacturing through their early association with traders, tended to locate their monastic establishments in natural geographic formations close to major trade routes so as to provide lodging houses for travelling traders. Today, the cave complex is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Chaitya hall is spectacular with 37 octagonal pillars with a base structure of a water jar and it has a special feature of the façade screen made out of teak wood. The entrance of the Chaitya hall is adorned with an arch in the shape of a horse shoe.
How To Reach :
By Road/Bus :
State owned buses connect nearest cities with the hill station Lonavala. Any tourist service providers arrange package tours by A/C deluxe buses to Lonavala from Mumbai and Pune. They charge about Rs 4 per km in these A/C luxury buses.
By Plane/Air :
The nearest airport is Pune airport, which is at distance of 62 km from Lonavala town. Pune is connected to Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore by air. Major international airport near to Lonavala is Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International airport. This is at a distance of 100 km away from Lonavala. Airports near Lonavala Type Aerial Distance- Lohegaon Airport, Pune (PNQ) Domestic 60 km Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (BOM) International 71 km Gandhinagar Airport, Nasik (ISK) Domestic 142 km Diu Airport (DIU) Domestic 198 km
By Train/Rail :
Lonavala railway station lies in the main railway line between Mumbai and Pune. Many express trains between Mumbai and Pune stops here. Lonavala is connected to all major railheads through Mumbai and Pune. Hyderabad (SC) 3 more trains Rajkot Express (17018) 03:13 AM (duration: 12h 23m) Mon, Tue & Sat Mumbai (CSTM) 26 more trains Siddheshwar Exp (12115) 01:03 AM (duration: 2h 28m) - All Days, Shirdi Fast Pas (51033) 01:53 AM (duration: 2h 58m)- All Days, Pune (PUNE) 42 more trains Sinhagad Exp (11010) 07:13 AM (duration: 1h 8m) - All Days, Deccan Queen (12124) 08:08 AM (duration: 0h 53m)- All Days,