Cuevas de Karla

A popular day trip from Mumbai, the Karla Caves are a series of ancient Buddhist shrines carved into a hillside over two thousand years ago, with origins tracing back to the 1st century BCE. Located in Maharashtra, India, the complex features remarkably preserved chaityas (prayer halls) and viharas (monasteries), adorned with finely detailed sculptures of elephants, horses, and human figures. Visitors can explore the grand pillared hall of the main cave, marvel at the ornate façade blending Hindu and Buddhist motifs, and experience the serene atmosphere of one of western India’s most significant early rock-cut religious sites.