2000 year old Buddhist trail to Karla & Bhaja Caves as a day trip from Mumbai

Two thousand years ago Buddhist monks built monasteries along the trade routes through the Western Ghats to shelter the merchants who funded them. These caves above Lonavala are what remains. Inside Karla's great prayer hall — the largest rock cut chaitya in India — wooden ceiling ribs installed by the original builders are still in place after two millennia. At Bhaja, a carving shows a woman playing what historians have identified as a tabla, pushing the known history of India's most celebrated drum back by over a thousand years. This Karla and Bhaja Caves tour from Mumbai covers both sites with an expert guide who brings the full story of Buddhist trade-route monasticism and ancient Indian music history to life. Private car, expert guide, all entry fees and lunch included. 5 Senses Tours is recognised by the Department of Tourism, a winner of the Outlook Responsible Tourism Award and the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award.