Lonavala, Maharashtra, India (June 2025)
Lonavala, set amidst the scenic Western Ghats and famed for its delicious chikkis, "is a hill station surrounded by green valleys in western India near Mumbai. The Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves are ancient Buddhist shrines carved out of the rock, featuring massive pillars and intricate relief sculptures. South of the Bhaja Caves sits the imposing Lohagad Fort, with its 4 gates."
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Bhaja Caves (info) |
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Path to the caves
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From the 2nd cent. BCE
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Vaulted horse-shoe ceiling
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A game carved on the
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A carving on a pillar
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Rock-cut caves
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Additional caves
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View from within
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Another view
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A simple cave (more)
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Chaitya with stupa
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Outside stupas
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Rainy day and waterfall
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Cave #19
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Next to a waterfall
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Carvings and pillars
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Surya and Indra carvings
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Cave #19 (more)
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Waterfall
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A wider view
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Closeup of caves
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Exterior carving
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Sculpted detail
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Part of the Deccan Traps
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A village below (more)
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Karla Caves |
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Buddhist rock-cut caves
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Dates from 2nd cent.
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Located near an ancient
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The Great Chaitya
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Roof timbers are original!
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Two rows of columns ...
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... with statues atop each
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Stupa
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Pillars, the Great Chaitya
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Dates from 50-70 CE
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Capital detail
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Right pillars (more)
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Capital detail
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Capital detail
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Capital detail
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Board game on floor?
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Main facade / entrance
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Relief sculptures
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Yours truly
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The valley from the caves
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Amorous couple
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Amorous couple
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Amorous couple
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Chaitya entrance route
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Subsidiary caves
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Viharas
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Dwellings of monks
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Buddhist hermitages
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Relief sculpture
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Dwellings of monks
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View of the caves
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View of the caves
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Lohagarh fort (info) |
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Rainy day hike (more)
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Enveloped in the clouds
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Climb to the top (more)
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Rock-cut caves on
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