Karla & Bhaja Caves Full-Day Private Tour with Lunch

Contact Vincent Vacations to add this to your travel package today!

Duration: 8h
Location: Karla Caves, Pune, India | Pune, India


Category: Day Trips & Excursio

Highlights:
Fine examples of religious cave architecture
History & culture of societies along an ancient trade route
Tranquil & refreshing day spent out of lively Mumbai
Sites on a path less-traveled for an intimate experience
Private guide for a personalized tour

Inclusions:
Guided tour of Karla and Bhaja caves
Admission fees
Lunch
Roundtrip transportation to and from your central Mumbai hotel via air-conditioned vehicle
Live tour commentary provided in English

Description:

In the hills between Mumbai and Pune, explore the ancient cave wonders at Karla and Bhaja as you enjoy the privileges of a private guide on a full-day tour. Engage with India's atavistic Buddhist culture as you visit dwellings and temples located on a vital former trade route from the Arabian Sea.

On either side of the Mumbai-Pune Highway lie the roads up to the impressive Karla and Bhaja Caves. Not as well-known as Mumbai's other landmarks, these rock-carved onetime communities are no less wonderful.

Begin at Karla and admire the elaborate carvings, striking sculptures, and vast prayer hall. Learn from your guide about the Buddhist origins of the complex, close to the significant trade route linking the Arabian Sea and the Indian heartland, where nomadic travelers would often stay.

Following lunch, proceed to Bhaja and the monastic dwellings hewn into the basalt rock. Here, the caves are notable for pieces of wooden architecture which you observe on the ceilings. Decorative sculptures and, in the rainy season, a delightful waterfall help create an altogether enchanting space.