On my recent trip to Lonavala, I visited the Karla Caves.

I go to Lonavala often, but it was my first visit to the Karla Caves and Ekveera Aai temple.

This time I deviated slightly – by Karla Caves and Ekveera Aai temple – from my usual itinerary – Bhushi Dam, shopping for ceramics, eating corn, bhajjis, vada pav, Maggie, tea and coffee.

10 km from Lonavala, carved into a hillside, are the Karla Caves and the Ekveera temple next to them.

Whether it’s your first visit or you’re coming after a long time, here’s all the latest information for a worry-free trip.

In this article, discover –

• History of Karla Caves
• Inside the caves
• Timings and tickets
• The hike to the caves
• Best time to visit
• Nearby attractions
• How to reach Karla Caves?
• Travel tips

HISTORY OF KARLA CAVES

In the olden days, Buddhists often settled near popular trade routes and provided housing and food to weary traders and travellers.

The Karla Caves, for example, are along the old trade route joining the Arabian Sea to the Deccan.

Based on the inscriptions and carvings, the Karla Caves are Buddhist caves belonging to the Mahasamghika sect of Buddhism.

The Karla Caves, compared to other Buddhist Caves, might be smaller, but they are one of the oldest.

The Karla Leni are well-known for the “Grand Chaitya”, a prayer hall with a Stupa.

INSIDE KARLA CAVES

Only a portion of the Karla Caves are open to the public.

For explaining purposes, I’m naming caves – 1 and 2.

CAVE 1

Cave 1 is next to the Ekveera Aai temple.

Show your ticket, remove your shoes and enter.

A three-walled entrance decorated with sculptures of couples, elephants and other animals marks the Grand Chaitya’s entryway.

Many foreign traders and merchants contributed and donated to the caves’ construction.

Their contributions were commemorated by writing about them on the pillars.

Upon entering, pillars on both sides rise to greet you.

The tall columns are simple stone structures with sculpted tops and inscriptions in foreign languages such as Greek.

At the end of the columns stands a large stone Stupa.

A railing keeps the Stupa at a safe distance from visitors.

And lastly, don’t forget to look up.

The ceiling is the best feature – the wooden arches. They add to the simplicity of the caves.

After seeing the prayer hall, explore the other caves of the complex.

CAVES 2

Cave 2 is the one you see immediately upon reaching the top.

Show your ticket here again and enter.

Walk up a dark stone stairway to viharas (rooms) and a covered balcony on the upper floor.

Viharas served as rooms or living quarters for traders and merchants passing through.

The simple rooms have three walls and an entrance, but the rooms were closed to visitors at the time of my visit.

During the olden days, electricity wasn’t available; sunlight through the large balcony windows illuminated the rooms.

TRAVEL TIP:– The windows provide grand views of the valley.

The caves are an architectural and historical marvel.

It’s awe-inspiring what the people could do without any modern machinery.

It was my first time visiting the Karla Caves, despite the multiple trips to Lonavala.

Better late than never.

I enjoyed exploring the Karla Caves, especially the well-preserved Grand Chaitya.

Next to the Karla Caves is the sacred Ekveera Aai temple.

I highly recommend visiting Ekveera Aai temple as well.

It is an old temple dedicated to the goddess Ekveera Aai, the deity of the Koli (fishermen) community.

Refer to my separate guide to Ekveera Aai temple for more details.

TIMINGS AND TICKETS

The Karla Caves are open daily, from Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm.

There is a ticket to enter the Karla Caves; a single ticket costs Rs.25 for Indians and Rs.300 for foreigners.

The ticket is for Karla temple, whereas entry to Ekveera Aai temple is free.

It takes 15-20 minutes to explore the Karla Caves.

THE HIKE TO KARLA CAVES

Karla Caves are atop a hill.

The hike to Karla Caves involves climbing 500 steps to the top.

It takes 30 minutes to reach the top, more if you stop for snacks and sweets on the way.

The steps are lined with stalls and shops on both sides, enticing visitors to stop and sample a few.

I recommend going slow getting to the top – Eat corn, sample a few Kandi pedhas, and buy Kalakand.

You can also buy souvenirs like Koli-styled caps and a few trinkets.

Enjoy the valley views and spot a couple of waterfalls along the way.

I remember watching the green fields and houses shrink higher I got.

When a dense fog settled on the valley, it became hazy, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

I would have loved to see more of the beautiful scenery, but the many shops made that impossible.

The steps are lined with handrails, making navigating the steps easy during the monsoon.

The steps are slippery from use, so wear appropriate footwear, so no high heels.

I slipped twice on the way back.

There are two parking areas – One at the bottom of the hill and another at the top.

Many visitors park at the base of the hill and walk up the road to the top, which takes 50 minutes or more.

The climb from the base parking area is strenuous because the road has a steep incline with sharp turns.

It’s better to find parking at the top.

It will reduce time and walking distance.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Karla Caves are open to the public all year round.

All seasons are good, but my favourite is the monsoons.

During the monsoons, the hills are lush green with dozens of waterfalls, and a dense fog descends on the valley.

You can expect light or heavy rain during the monsoons, so carry a jacket.

Better yet, get wet – That’s the best way to enjoy Lonavala.

It gets chilly, and the temperature drops during the rainy season.

TRAVEL TIP:- Carry an extra set of clothes if you want to get wet.

Also, monsoons are the peak season for visiting Lonavala.

Every year, the Mumbai – Pune expressway has a long traffic jam lasting 3-4 hours or more, especially on weekends.

The winters are the best time for seeing lush green hills and a few waterfalls.

But this is possible only during the first few weeks of winter because waterfalls slowly start drying up.

The temperature is low, and there is little to no rainfall.

Summer is not a good time to visit Lonavala or Karla Caves.

The temperature is extremely high, and the weather is hot and humid.

Also, don’t expect green hills and the waterfalls are long gone.

Just because it’s hot, don’t think crowds are less.

It’s the summer holidays, so families and friends are out and about.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Ekveera Aai temple, Bhushi Dam, Lonavala Lake, Tiger Point, Rajmachi Point, Bhaja Caves, Lohagarh Fort and Visapur Fort are the must-visit attractions near Karla Caves.

Ekveera Aai temple is next to the Karla Caves.

If you want to play in the water, Bhushi Dam and the waterfall near Lonavala Lake are the best places.

For trekking enthusiasts, Visapur and Lohagarh Forts are great.

Tiger Point has a reverse waterfall, and Rajmachi Point offers sprawling views of Sahyadri hills.

Bhaja Caves are 7 km from their sister caves, Karla Leni.

All attractions are open all year round, but monsoons are the best time.

HOW TO REACH KARLA CAVES?

Karla Caves and Ekveera Aai temple are 60 km from Pune and 95 km from Mumbai.

The Karla Caves are 10 km from Lonavala, which is connected to Mumbai, Pune and Nashik by road, train and air.

BY ROAD

You can travel from Pune to Karla Caves via the Mumbai – Pune expressway (61 km) or the old Mumbai – Pune Highway (59 km).

Also, both routes have similar arrival times.

The old highway is in good condition and is not as busy as the Mumbai – Pune expressway.

There are no tolls on the old highway, but the expressway charges Rs.41 toll fee.

BY TRAIN

The Lonavala train station (LNL) is the closest to Karla Caves, at 11 km.

You can take a train from Pune, Mumbai or Nashik to Lonavala train station (LNL), 11 km from the caves.

Outside the station, auto rickshaws or taxis are available for hire.

You can also take the bus to the caves from the Lonavala bus stand, 650 m from the train station.

The first bus is at 6 am from Lonavala to Karla Caves, and the last is at 7 pm from the caves to Lonavala.

BY AIR

Pune airport is the closest to Lonavala, 69 km away; Mumbai airport is 92 km away, and Nashik airport is 250 km away.

Lonavala is well-connected to major Indian cities by road, train and air.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Avoid travelling to Karla Caves or Lonavala on weekends, especially during monsoons, as it gets too crowded and results in long traffic jams.
• Carry an extra set of clothes.
• Wear proper shoes and not heels when visiting the caves because the steps to the caves are slippery from use.
• Travel light; Don’t carry heavy backpacks when visiting the caves, as it’s a 30-minute hike to the top.
• Washrooms are available at the top near the ticket counter.
• Parking lot is moderate and fills up quickly, so arrive early.

CONCLUSION

That concludes the guide to Karla Caves in Lonavala.

I hope this article was helpful and answered all your queries.

If I missed something or you have any questions, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

All you’ve got to do is decide to go, and the hardest part is over.

tony wHeeler