Karla Tourism Buddhism in India Religious Tours

Dating back to the 2nd Century BC, the monuments at Karla are at a distance of 11 kms 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 wood work 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.


	Buddhist Places
			¤Ajanta Caves ¤Bhaja Caves ¤Bodhgaya ¤Nagarjuna Konda ¤Kanheri Caves ¤Jannar Caves ¤Kapilavastu ¤Kaushambi ¤Sravasti ¤Kushinagar ¤Ladakh ¤Nalanda ¤Orissa ¤Rajgir ¤Sanchi ¤Sankisa ¤Tabo ¤Sarnath ¤Sikkim ¤Tawang ¤Vaishali

Karla Caves