Stunning Karla Caves

Karla Caves is one of the popular one-day gateways for the people of Mumbai and Pune. These stunning caves are located near the old Pune Mumbai highway. The caves are almost 20 kilometers aways from Lonavla and hardly 40 kilometers from Pune.

According to the mythological stories, the Karla caves date back to the second century BC. These caves are renowned for their Chaitya Hall, intricate pillars and sculptures with creative architecture. The beautiful Chaitya hall has amazing structural design. Also, the rooftop of the caves is designed using teakwood and the pillars are marvelously carved.

The caves complex has various carved chaityas and viharas, which are designed as the dwelling places for the monks staying in the caves. One of the most notable features of Karla caves is the vaulted interiors and arched entrances. The outside facade of the caves has intricate details carved on it and has an imitation of fine wood. In addition to this, there is a huge central motif that boosts a horseshoe arch.

Karla caves have few striking pillar, and one of the pillars have four lions placed at the top. The same structure is now used as the national emblem of India. It has various sculptures that are cut out of rock, and are based on different forms of human life and numerous animals.

One of the most interesting parts of the caves is the Buddhist style of architecture. The caves are cool during summer and cozy during winter. The caves are well adapted to the changing weather Indian conditions, and spiritual and material conditions as well as. The concept of these cave strikes a fundamental chord of the Indian spirituality, which is being one with the nature. The Buddhist monks have carefully carved out the replicas of stupas, images, chaitya halls and shrines. The Karla Caves is one of the finest examples of Buddhist architectural style.

This popular tourist attraction has a stone stupa and almost 37 pillars, which are chiseled with the different figures of prosperous women and men on elephants, and prostrating before the Lord Buddha.  You will see bouncing sunshine that falls inside the shrine and further lends a serene aura.

Reach Karla Caves

If you are planning to travel by air, than the nearest airport to reach Karla caves is in Pune. It is located at a distance of 55 kilometers from Karla. On the other hand, the nearest local railway station is Malavil, which is located hardly 5 kilometers away from the caves. Other major railway station is Pune, which is well connected with various cities in India.