Barely 20 kms away from the hillstation of Lonavla, is another Buddhist complex at Karla. These too, are first century structures, reached by a breathless climb up a small, steep hill. They typify Buddhist architecture in its Golden Age and contain a magnificent stone stupa. Sunlight streams in from a carved window falling precisely on the shrine. Inside, the pillars are carved with figures of men, women and elephants probably from ancient Buddhist lore, and the 2000-year-old teak wood ceiling is still intact. Outside is another pillar crowned with lions. This was an emblem of the Buddhist King Ashoka, now adopted by the Indian Government.
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