Karla Cave
Dating back to the 2nd Century BC, the monuments at Karla are at a distance of 11 km from Lonavala and just off the Mumbai-Pune road. The magnificent Chaitya hall at Karla is the largest (124ft x 46.5ft x 45ft) and most evolved example of its class. Three important features of the interior of the hall are columns or pillars, the roof vault and the great sun windows. There are 37 columns in all, of which 30 have interesting capitals showing prosperous men and women riding elephants and horses yet bowing in humility to the Great Buddha. The vaulted roof has wooden supports. This is the only place in India where 2000-year-old woodwork can be seen. At the far end of the hall stands a stupa, above which is held an umbrella, a symbol of royalty. The whole system of lighting depends on the enormous sun windows through which cleverly diffused light with its light and shadows gives a great sense of solemnity.
Kanheri Caves
Situated 42 Kms north of Mumbai, near Borivili, the kanheri caves were once protected by a dense jungle. The Caves are set in the heart of the Borivili National Park. There are 109 caves dating from 1st century BC to 9th Century AD, each connected with a flight os steps. The most important one is the Cave No.3 of the 6th century which has the last of the excavated Chaitya Hall of the Hinayana Order. It has 34 pillars and is like a colonnaded hall 28 mtrs.x13 mtr. in dimension. The encircle a 5mtrs. high Dagoba or stupa and have carvings depicting elephants kneeling and worshipping the stupa. The other important caves are, Cave 11, Durbar Hall or the Assembly Hall with a statue of the Buddha occupying the central place as in the case of idols in Hindu temples and also a number of cells for Buddhist monks. Cave 34 is a dark cell and has paintings of the Buddha on the ceiling. Cave 41 has, besides other sculptures, a figure of the eleven headed Avalokieshvara. Cave 67 is a big cell, with the figure of Avalokiteshwara as savior flanked by two female figures in the verandah. There are also images of the Buddha depicting the miracle of Sravasti.
Junnar Caves
The birth place of the Maratha chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji, is 177 kms from Mumbai on the Mumbai-Aurangabad route. The hills surrounding the plains of Junnar are honeycombed with a cluster of Buddhist caves, which are divided into three distinct groups, which are divided into three distinct groups. These caves belongs to the period 2nd Century BC to 3rd century AD. 5 Kms to the west are the TULIJA lENA Group which has a circular dome ceiling in the Chaitya Hall (Cave No. 3.). The second group of caves are located 1.5 Kms south of the town, towards the Manmodi Hills. It has a well preserved facade. The third group, Ganesh Lena Group is located 4 kms south of Junnar. There are a large number of small cells and viharas in the group, the principal being the Chaitya cave No. 6 and the vihara now known as the Ganesh Lena.
Bhaja Caves
Bhaja has 18 caves belonging to the 2nd century B.C. Cave No. 12 is the largest and has a fine stilted vault. The last cave to the south has a excellent sculptures including that of the famous 'Dancing Couple'. Bhaja caves are located 12 kms from Lonavala and can be reached by an uphill climb of half-hour from the Malavali Railway Station on the Mumbai-Lonavala-Pune section of the central Railway.
Nagarjuna Konda
Nagarjuna Sagar, earlier called vijaypuri in ancient times, is an important Buddhist site located 150 kms from Hydrabad in Andhra Pradesh. It is named after the Buddhist saint acharya Nagarjuna and reveals one of the most outstanding Buddhist civilizations of the 3rd Century A.D. a replica of the excavated site has been created and carefully preserved on an island known as Nagarjuna Konda. The excavations have brought to light the Mahachaitya, the most sacred of the Stupas. An inscription in the Brahmi characters states that the relics of Buddha lie within the Mahachaitya while others have revealed the existence of a Vihara and also an Aswamedha (sacrificial alter), besides tools from the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.
