The Karla Caves are located in:

The Karla Caves (Karle Caves) are located near Lonavala, in the Pune district of Maharashtra.

About the Karla Caves:

They are a group of ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves, developed from about the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE.

The oldest caves were carved during the Satavahana period, and they were linked to the Hinayana (Theravada) school of Buddhism. Later additions are linked to Mahayana Buddhism.

They lie on an ancient trade route running from the Arabian Sea ports to the Deccan plateau, and they were supported by traders, merchants and rulers.

The Great Chaitya:

The most famous cave is the "Great Chaitya" (Cave 8), a prayer hall that is one of the largest and finest rock-cut chaityas in India. It is about 45 metres long and 14 metres high.

It dates from around the 1st century CE.

An inscription says that it was carved for a merchant (or banker) named Bhutapala of Vaijayanti.

It has a large horseshoe-shaped window (the "chaitya window") that lets light fall on a stupa at the far end.

It has rows of carved pillars, with capitals showing elephants, horses and riders, and wooden roof beams that have survived for about 2,000 years.

At the entrance, there is a pillar topped with four lions (similar to an Ashokan pillar).

Couples (mithunas) are carved on the facade.

Near the caves:

• The Ekvira Devi Temple, worshipped by the Koli (fishing) community, stands at the entrance.
• Bhaja Caves and Bedse Caves, other early Buddhist caves, are nearby.

Other rock-cut caves of Maharashtra:

• Ajanta: Buddhist caves with paintings (Aurangabad district).
• Ellora: Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves (Aurangabad district).
• Elephanta: Shiva caves (Mumbai harbour).
• Kanheri: Buddhist caves (Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai).
• Pandavleni: Buddhist caves near Nashik.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Madhya Pradesh has the Udayagiri and Bagh caves.
• ✗Bihar has the Barabar caves.
• ✗Odisha has the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.