Karla Caves

When you reach Karla Caves, you step into some of the finest ancient rock cut caves in India. Cut into a hillside near Lonavala, these Buddhist caves are more than two thousand years old. Inside the great prayer hall, tall stone pillars and a rounded roof carved from solid rock leave you quiet with wonder. Beside the caves stands the loved temple of Ekvira Devi. On the cool green route between Mumbai and Pune, Karla makes a beautiful half day stop for your family.

The Karla Caves, also called Karli Caves, are ancient Buddhist rock cut caves in the Pune district of Maharashtra, near the hill town of Lonavala. Monks carved them out of solid rock more than two thousand years ago. The main cave is a chaitya, or prayer hall, and it ranks among the largest and best preserved of its kind in India. At the entrance stands the popular Ekvira Devi temple, which draws many devotees, especially from the Koli community.

October to March

The great chaitya hall is the main sight. You climb a short flight of steps to reach it. Inside, a row of carved pillars leads to a stone stupa, and the high curved roof still shows the old wooden style copied in rock. Fine carvings of elephants and human figures decorate the hall. At the entrance, the Ekvira Devi temple gives you a lively place to take darshan.

Buddhist monks carved the Karla Caves along an old trade route between the coast and the inland towns. Rich traders and guilds gave money to build these grand halls of worship, and you can still read their names carved in the stone. For hundreds of years monks lived and prayed here in the quiet of the hills. Today the caves and the Ekvira Devi temple together show how faiths have lived side by side in India for a very long time.

The Lonavala area near Karla is full of good food. Try hot vada pav, bhajias and corn on the cob, which taste wonderful in the cool weather. Pure vegetarian Maharashtrian and Gujarati thalis are easy to find. Lonavala is also famous for its chikki, a sweet made of jaggery and nuts, which shops sell everywhere nearby.

Lonavala, close to Karla, is the shopping stop of the area. It is famous all over India for chikki in many flavours, which makes a favourite gift. You can also buy fudge, jams and local snacks. Near the caves, small stalls sell flowers, coconuts and prasad for the Ekvira Devi temple.

Karla is easy to reach on the busy Mumbai to Pune route. Mumbai is about 100 km. away and Pune is about 60 km. away. Lonavala is the nearest railway station, only a short drive from the caves. From Lonavala you take an auto rickshaw or taxi to the foot of the hill, and then climb the steps to the caves. Hiring a taxi for the day is the easy way to see the caves and the nearby forts.

Near Karla you can also see the Bhaja and Bedse caves, which are older and quieter Buddhist sites set in green hills. The Lohagad and Visapur forts, a short drive away, make easy and popular treks. In and after the monsoon, small waterfalls and green valleys make the whole area very green and fresh.

Lonavala (about 11 km.): A cool hill town with lakes and viewpoints. Bhaja Caves (about 10 km.): Older Buddhist caves in a green setting. Lohagad Fort (about 15 km.): An easy and popular hill fort. Khandala (about 15 km.): A pretty hill spot with valley views on the Mumbai Pune route.

A climb of many steps takes you to the caves, so wear good shoes and carry water. The site grows busy on weekends and during temple festivals, so an early morning visit stays calmer. Please do not touch or scratch the old carvings, as they are a precious part of our heritage.