The Buddhist caves at Karla, built by the Buddhist monks, are one of the finest examples of ancient rock-cut caves to be found in India. Dating back from the 3rd to 2nd century BCE, the Karla caves in Lonavla, Maharashtra, were built during the Satvahahana rulers, and hosted the Theravadin Buddhist monks in the monsoons, though however they soon turned into the all time monasteries and viharas for all the sects of Buddhism.
Architecture
The centuries old Karla caves are the magnificent examples of Indian rock-cut architecture. Built from top to bottom in the form of a ladder, the early Karla caves do not depict the Buddha in His physical forms but rather in symbols. However, from the 7th century CE when the Mahayanas became more popular with their liberal thoughts, the later Karla caves do presents the Buddha in HIs physical form such as the Buddha preaching while seated on a lion-supported throne, along with magnificent carvings of three elephants.
The Karla caves comprises mainly two types of structures: Chaitya halls and viharas. The chaitya halls, which form the largest number of chaityas in the world(one being 148 feet long), were used for congregational worship whereas the viharas were the dwelling place for the monks and further included cells cut into the walls around three sides of a hall used for their residential and individual meditation. The pillars of the halls inside the caves have been carved with figures of men, women, flowers and elephants, though the pillars outside these halls have lions erected on them as their crowns, an emblem of Ashoka, the great Indian ruler.
The entrance of the caves is a temple, built some years back, and the temple is further accompanied by an ancient pillar. The doors and windows are other wonderful examples of the golden architecture, with their panels carved with sculptures of couples embracing each other.
The City of Karla
Lonavla - Lonavla, a hill station of Maharashtra, is located on the Sahyadri Mountains, 625 meters above the sea level. Also known as the 'Jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains', the hill station also serves as the entrance of the ancient Buddhist rock cut caves of Karla.
Other Cave Attractions
- Bhaja Caves: The Bhaja caves is a group of 18 caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE. An excellent illustration from the ancient Indian architecture, these caves are located at a distance of 12 kilometers from Lonavla in Maharashtra. The largest one of these caves is Cave number 12.
- Ellora: The Ellora caves are the finest examples of cave-temple architecture in India, reflecting the love and respect of Indians for all the religions in India. The Caves comprises the cave temples related to all three major religions in the ancient India - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These caves are located 28 kilometers from Aurangabad and belongs to the period between 5th century CE to the 11th century CE.
- Ajanta : The Ajanta caves, 30 in numbers, are major heritage centres of Maharashtra along with that of Ellora and Elephanta. Situated on the Sahyadri hills at a distance of 70 kilometers from Ellora caves near Aurangabad, the Ajanta rock cut caves comprises Chaitya halls, shrines, Viharas and monasteries used by the Buddhist monks.
- Pithalkhora: Dedicated to the Theravada sect of Buddhism, the Pithalkhora caves, located on the Satmala hills, 78 kilometers from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, consitute the largest Theravadin caves of the Indian sub-continent. These caves, which dates back to the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE, comprises temples, monasteries and viharas, mainly used by the Buddhist monks.
- Kanheri: The Kanheri caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE to the 9th century CE, are located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, 40 kilometers from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. These caves, built by the Mauryan and the Kushana rulers, are situated at a height of 1500 feet above the sea level, and offers a panoramic view of ttheArabian sea.
- Aurangabad Buddhist Caves : The Aurangabad Buddhist caves, dating back to the 4th-8th century CE, is a major centre of attraction in Aurangabad among the tourists. Built by the Chalukya and the Vakataka rulers, the caves are related to the Mahayana sect with two exceptional cases - one being dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesha, while another one relates to the Theravadins.
- Junnar: Junnar, also known as the birthplace of Shivaji, the great Indian warrior famous for his bravery and diplomacy, is a home to the Buddhist caves dating back to the period of 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE. The entire Junnar Buddhist caves, falling on the Mumbai-Aurangabad route and 177 kilometers from Mumbai, have been divided into three major groups:
a. Tulija Lena group
b. Manmodi Hill group
c. Ganesh Lena group
Accessibility
The Karla cave, which lies between the cities of Mumbai and Pune, is easily accessible by all means of transport.
By Air - The nearest airport are at Mumbai(120 kilometers) and Pune(55 kilometers).
By Rail - The nearest rail heads are at Pune and Mumbai, at a distance of 55 and 120 kilometers respectively. A local train can also be taken to Bhaja village, 5 kilometers from the Karla town.
