Absolutely stunning entrance to less popular ancient Karli caves, Lonavala(Maharashtra)

Dated: 2nd century BCE
Column and caves were carved out of single monolithic rock.
A notable feature of these caves is their arched entrances and vaulted interiors. The outside facade has intricate details carved into it in an imitation of finished wood. The central motif is a large horseshoe arch. There is an Ashokan pillar at the front, with a closed stone facade and torana in between.
Temple builders did unbelievably magnificent and sophisticated work – leaving columns and other structural elements at exact distances and proportions and carving some of the most beautiful ancient sculptures of the world in situ. Hundreds of sculptures.
Karla Caves represent the highest achievement of Indian rock-cut architecture of the time and are one of the earliest examples of ornate and richly decorated rock-cut temples in India. In splendour these caves can be compared to Ajanta and Ellora but are much less popular – thus visit here is pleasant due to less crowds. Part of the caves is accessible by
climbing 350 steps cut in the rock at the time when temples were built. Construction workers moved here not only themselves but many tons of stones – doing it carefully, without damaging the exquisite carvings and
levelled surfaces.
["Ancient Excavations at Carli" from 'Twenty Four Views in St. Helena, the Cape, India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, Abyssinia and Egypt'.]