Karla Caves Photo Gallery by Mary Ann Campbell at pbase.com

Karla Caves

The Karla Caves are Buddhist caves about an hour's drive from Mumbai, near Lonavla, a hill station known for its chikki (sweets like peanut brittle). There is a very active Hindu temple at the site now, which is on the top of a steep hill whose path is lined with vendors selling refreshments to the people going to the temple. There were few tourists.

Part way up the hill	Path up the hill	My guide, Muru	View from the top
	A minor cave	View from third floor of a cave temple
Largest chaitya (Buddhist cave temple) in India			Someone is buried in this column
Awesome stupa	Outside of chaitya		Old script
On the way down

comment |

Guest		28-Dec-2007 06:29
Oh! Where are the pictures of the mithunas (loving couples with robust hips and breasts) in front of the verandah? The scene of preaching Buddha also on the verandah was carved at least 500 years later during the Gupta when the construction activities resumed.

Guest		28-Dec-2007 06:23
Some of the Brahmi inscriptions at Karla mentioned it as belonging to the Mahasanghika sect...a Yavana (the 'Ionia'-Bactrian-Asiatic Greeks or Greek descendants of Alexander) as refered by the Indians in those days) was also named among the donors of Karla. Many Asiatic Greeks were converted to Buddhism in the 2nd-1st Century BCE as stated in numerous Indian inscriptions and in Buddhist scriptures. King Menander (Milinda) was a well-known Asiatic Greek king around Mid 2nd Century BCE to have been converted to Buddhism by Thera Nagasena (of Theravada School).

Dr. Rupali Mokashi		18-Oct-2006 14:52
Dear mary my women have donated at karle too. NObady is buried under the column. I have analysed the inscriptions here too......... Rupali

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