Музей Karla Caves Ancient Monument

Location
The caves have been cut into the rock in the hillside above the village of Karla in Maharashtra. Karla is located just off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, near Lonavala. Travel time from Mumbai is around two hours, and it's under an hour and a half from Pune (in normal traffic conditions).

Getting There
The closest railway station is at Malavali, four kilometers away. It's accessible by local train from Pune. The larger Lonavala railway station is also nearby, and trains from Mumbai will stop there. You can easily take an auto rickshaw to the caves from either railway station. If you're traveling by bus, get down at Lonavala.

How to Visit
Reaching the Karla Caves requires a walk up 350 steps from the base of the hill or nearly 200 steps from the car park around halfway up the hill.

Tickets are required to go inside the caves. The ticket booth is at the entrance at the top of the hill. The entry fee is 25 rupees for Indians and 300 rupees for foreigners.

There's also a Hindu Ekvira Devi temple next to the caves. As a result, the area does get quite busy with pilgrims coming to visit the temple rather than the caves.

The steps up to the caves are lined with vendors selling religious paraphernalia, snacks, and drinks. You'll find a vegetarian restaurant in the car park.

If you wish to stay in the vicinity, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has an average property at Karla on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. You'll find more attractive options at Lonavala.

References:

History behind the Karla Caves | India Heritage Sites (wordpress.com)

Karla Caves in Maharashtra: The Complete Guide (tripsavvy.com)

Karla Caves - Wikipedia

Karla Caves | Wondermondo (www.wondermondo.com)