Karla Buddha Caves

The Karla Caves, Karli Caves, Karle Caves or Karla Cells, are a complex of ancient Buddhist Indian rock-cut caves at Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra [1]. The shrines were developed over the period from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE [1]. The caves were historically associated with the Mahāsāṃghika sect of Buddhism which had great popularity in this region of India, as well as wealthy patronage [1]. The caves house a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 2nd century BC [1]. The main cave, called the Great Chaitya cave, or Cave No. 8, features a large, intricately carved chaitya within a prayer hall [1]. This is the largest rock-cut chaitya in India, measuring 45 metres long and up to 14 metres high [1]. The hall features sculptures of both males and females, as well as animals such as lions and elephants [1]. Numerous donors, mainly local merchants, several of them Yavanas, as well as numerous Buddhist monks and nuns, provided donations for the construction of the chaitya cave, as recorded by their dedicatory inscriptions [1].