A cave near Lonavla that will make you skip a heartbeat

Karla Caves are ancient Buddhist shrines and have inscriptions from that period. The Caves are widespread and has one floor too. There is a waterfall from above the caves, which makes it more intriguing

The facade is made of teak wood and has a Ashoka Pillar as well. The monastery was once home to two 15-meter grand pillars. Now only one of these remains.

The early Buddhist school, Mahasamghika, is associated with these caves and you have to take off your shoes while entering the caves. Outside the caves, there are elephants on the either side and the carvings are interesting. As you enter, there is a huge stupa in the chaitya hall and has 37 carved pillars and a base of water jar.

The carvings on these pillars are beautiful with men, women and animals on them

The ASI has done a good job in restoring them. The facade is made of teak wood and there is a Ashoka pillar in the front. The main hall is 37 metre deep.

It seems that the entire monastic complex at Karla was conceived as a single design. The seven pillars behind the stupa do not have any carving

There is a roof above the stupa and locals believe that if you throw a coin and it rests on the roof, your wish will come true.

As you go on the first floor, the staircase if very dark and you need to use torch to carefully climb them. There are viharas or smaller caves where monks must have prayed or stayed