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Mumbai Tours
2000 year old Buddhist trail to Karla & Bhaja Caves as a day trip from Mumbai
5

2000 year old Buddhist trail to Karla & Bhaja Caves as a day trip from Mumbai

By Five Senses Tours
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 0-99
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Lunch
  • Hotel & Cruise Terminal pickup and drop-off
  • Local guide
  • Entry/Admission - Karla Caves
  • Entry/Admission - Bhaja Caves
What's not included
  • Drinks


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • All hotels in Mumbai
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      Port pickup offered
      During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
      • Mumbai
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Near public transportation
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18983P77

        • A moderate amount of walking is involved. 200 steps each in Karla and Bhaja
        • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
        • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
        • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18983P77

        From
        $340.84
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Five Senses Tours
          83
          Mumbai, India
          Joined in June 2017
        • Navigate04270235177
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Five Senses Tour
          Nasreen our tour guide was wonderful , she explained everything very clearly and made the tour very memorable. We really enjoyed the spice market the historic buildings of Mumbai. We also had a great time at the Bollywood dance studio where Nasreen managed to get some amazing video shots. All in all the 5 Senses tour was a superb day out. Mike & Tina From Bath UK
          Written 28 November 2024
        • rajanikantj2018
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A memorable experience of Bombay heritage walk.
          Pankaj is a good human being and he knows the details of the heritage of Bombay and the UNESCO Buildings. He is effectively communicating the information which makes the tour fun and joy. As a host also he is very good. I would recommend Pankaj to all and especially to my friends and relatives.
          Written 7 August 2024
        • Jessicapeters123
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic carvings in a national park
          The Buddhist caves in the national park are a gem. I took a guided tour and it was well worth it. Pankaj was an outstanding guide and his knowledge was refreshing I enjoyed the conversation with him about Buddhism and how it compares with the other great Indian religions. The sculptures and carvings were amazing. I would highly recommend this tour.
          Written 19 November 2023
        • Madhav V
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A customized itinerary easily organized
          Wonderful customized itinerary and company that truly cares about its customers. The tour came together after coordination with the owner Narayan. Best tour company anywhere in my opinion.
          Written 3 June 2023
        • Madhav V
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An excellent trip. The company truly cares about customer .
          A wonderfully informative trip where changes were made easily to accommodate an unexpected illness that happened during hike up to the caves. Pankaj is a very knowledgeable guide and the company truly cares for their customers. Best tour company I have seen anywhere in the world.
          Written 3 June 2023
        • Scenic49572975718
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The caves
          I recommend 100%. We learned a lot of interesting things and the guide has a lot of knowledge so if you have a tour with Pankaj, ask a lot of questions. The Caves and the Pagoda were beautiful and the guide was very nice
          Written 30 May 2023
        • Timothy S
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Magnificent Caves, sculpture and paintings
          No journey anywhere near the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra State would be complete without a visit to the Ajanta and Ellora caves. These magnificent ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture and cave paintings depicting the life and legends of the Buddha are an absolute must see. And 5 Senses Tours makes this journey safe, easy and, in general, incredible by coordinating the travel to the sites, lodging and accommodation and great guides that provide in-depth background on the caves and life in the region.
          Written 1 March 2023
        • Anna67
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Good tour of the city!
          Good laid back tour of Mumbai. I liked the pace and the info from our guide Pankaj. He was informative and knowledgeable. Some tour guides feel they have to chatter every minute and I hate that because I also like to enjoy driving around the city and observe. Pankaj was quieter but friendly and interesting. I really enjoyed the tour. It was raining and I had a knee injury - Pankaj and the driver rearranged the itinerary to take into account the rain and to help me manage the steps. Much appreciated!
          Written 30 August 2022
        • leahelena
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great Overview of Mumbai!
          Pankaj and Prasanth were very competent guides around the city! As Mumbai locals, Pankaj was able to give us the facts and historical context about all the places we saw, and Prasanth was able to navigate the crazy traffic like a professional! We were well looked after and also got to enjoy a traditional lunch!
          Written 30 August 2022
        • Albert Y
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing experience
          The five senses tour was great, Every part was fascinating. Krupesh is a fantastic story teller full of great information about the culture, history, architecture of Mumbai and much more, Learning Bollywood dancing was a surprise and wonderful. The school for the abandoned children was very moving and genuine, The spice market and lunch was an explosion of smells and tastes, The colors of Mumbai will never be forgotten.
          Written 3 June 2022
        • FarAway34163201237
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Trip
          It was an amazing trip not much as expected but more of what it should have been like. Mumbai is and has always stayed amazing. Living in Mumbai never really got the time to explore it. It is simply amazing!
          Written 17 November 2020
        • Chuck_harris79
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Outstanding tour
          Wow this was a memorable tour. Madhu was an encyclopedia of knowledge and had tons of patience as well. He showed us remarkable sculptures, many 2000 years old and more importantly he examined the significance of each of them in Buddhism. He also helped is visualise this place as a global university for Buddhist education in the first century! I would highly recommend this tour.
          Written 13 March 2020
        • Gibson_sammy
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Remarkable Buddhist caves
          We were picked up from our hotel in the morning as this was a fully guided tour and our conversations started during the journey itself. It was an amazing experience to see Mumbai in action as we drove past the heart of the city. Our guide gave a wonderful perspective of life in this hard working city. Our destination was a et f 100+ caves which were 2000 years old. Nestled on top of a hill and surrounded by a national par, it was very picturesque. The caves were fascinating with some spectacular sculptures. Our guide
          Written 29 February 2020
        • Gary_peters23
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic caves and landscape
          This was a fascinating tour of 2000 year old Buddhist caves from Mumbai. Madhu picked us up and kept us enthralled throughout the tour not just about Buddhism and it's evolution in India but also about the current way of life in India. We learnt so much both about the ancient Buddhism as well as about life in modern India. It's unbelievable that such an ancient Buddhist university exists in Mumbai and has survived the ravages of time! This is a must visit.
          Written 27 February 2020
        • Adventure688835
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Visit to Mandu
          Historical palace. Had to pay a nominal fee to visit inside of the palace.Was built by Muslim Kind about Five Thousand years ago. The whole place was kept very clean. There were plaques relating the details of each room. There was a swimming pool. They had different areas for men & women.There was a pond from where nice smell was coming. A Must to visit when in Indore. The drive from Indore was about 2 hours.Had few restaurants out side the palace.
          Written 21 February 2020
        See all 83 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles10 reviews
        Excellent
        9
        Very good
        1
        Average
        0
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        0
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        0

        Paul V S
        Austin, TX18 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2020
        On the recommendation of a friend, himself an experienced traveler in India, we contacted Five Senses. Their director, Narayanan, responded to our request for a shore excursion to the Kanheri Caves NW of Mumbai. The advance communications were so clear and thoughtful we knew we were in for something good, but the tour far exceeded every expectation. Narayanan himself collected us at the port and drove us to the Kanheri caves, then guided us through this wonderful site with the help of his colleague Douglas, both of them expert and generous in their guidance. The day amounted to a brief and stimulating course in Indian cultural traditions, and our questions took us into current events as well. Our guides were both candid and tactful, and remarkably well informed. Sensitive to the needs of older travelers (we are 71 and 69), they took us on a walk through this ancient Buddhist "university," a site of great artistic and historical significance. Their explanations were both complex and clear, learned and memorable, unlike the usual tourist fare of simplistic tales. The drive to and from the site was as instructive as the site itself, partly because the guides shared information and answered questions so generously, and also because they spoke so perceptively about the Mumbai we saw out the windows of the very comfortable SUV. I would confidently, no, eagerly ask Narayanan to arrange travel for us anywhere in India. This travel company gave us not just a very insightful tour of an extraordinary place. It gave us contact with exceptionally knowing and thoughtful people. We have traveled so much in the last few years that I had to replace my passport four years early because the visa pages were full. No tour company on five continents has come close to this one day in my experience.
        Written 7 February 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hello! It was a great day for me to host 2 experienced teachers! It was a great day of learning for me as well. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the tenets of Buddhism and how it compared with Hinduism and Jainism which were the other 2 great religions of the day. Its very humbling to know that this was one of the best tour experiences you have had. I am grateful i got this opportunity to host you both.
        Written 17 February 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Gary Peters
        Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2020 • Friends
        This was our second tour with this company. Our first tour to Kanheri caves was amazing and kindled our interest on learning more about the fantastic ancient Buddhist caves around Mumbai. So we went out of Mumbai on a day trip to Karla and Bhaja caves in the picturesque hill station of Lonavla. Madhu was phenomenal again as in Kanheri. The sculpture here were much more beautiful and detailed as this was the latter period when Buddhism started accepting idols. Both the cave systems were on top of hills in a scenic location. The level of detailing in the sculptures was amazing. Our day was very enjoyable due to the immensely knowledgeable Madhu who told us everything we needed to know about Buddhism and how it coexisted with Hinduism. The best part of the day was discussing the different philosophies of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism sitting in a 2000 year old cave! What better way to understand India?!
        Written 28 February 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        john
        Connecticut2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We went to visit Bhaja and Karla caves. Our tour guide pankaj was a huge help in learning more about these caves and how they have changed throughout the years. He was also extremely helpful in choosing a great restaurant as well as picking out some of the best local food options!!! At the end of the tour he mapped out other sites and hidden gems for us that were in walking distance to our hotel! Great experience all around
        Written 28 August 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Brent M
        6 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2024 • Family
        Our guide Pankaj from 5 Senses Tours created a truly memorable experience. Not only did he provide valuable insight into the development of Buddhism in India but he also gave great descriptions of the amazing artistry of these 2000 year old carved Caves. Pankaj introduced us to some delicious local cuisine at a popular Lonavala restaurant. On our drive back to the Colaba area of Mumbai, he pointed out important attractions and recommended restaurants and monuments. He also ensured that we got properly checked in to our hotel.
        Written 24 April 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Kit Jones
        Manchester, UK4 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2020
        We came by cruise ship and were received at the port. This is a fantastic tour of the countryside and about Buddhist history, art, architecture and way of life. We learnt so much during this tour. Narayanan was amazing and on a mission to send us back enlightened! He was patient and tailored the tour as per our ability and interests. At the end of it we were overwhelmed and felt we should have spent more time In Mumbai! This tour would be an amazing one for anyone looking to better understand the rich cultiural heritage of India, Buddhism especially. The caves and sculptures are 2000 years old and simply magnificent. You will not forget this tour for a long time!
        Written 22 February 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Lara
        New York City, NY4 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2020 • Friends
        Karla and Bhaja are 2000 year old Buddhist caves. We had a fantastic time exploring the remarkable sculpture and ancient architecture. Both caves are located on top of hills and the set in idyllic village. The scenery was breathtaking and the guide was very knowledgeable about Buddhism. We learnt a lot about the origin of Buddhism and it's philosophy and it's dynamics with Hinduism the dominant religion of the land.
        The highway is very good for the drive and the people super friendly. Highly recommended
        Written 8 March 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Palvi GV
        Jersey City, NJ20 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2023 • Couples
        Ajit our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable not just about the Karla, Bhatia caves but the Maratha empire, the Buddhist religion spreading throughout India and a deep dive of the Indian freedom movement and Pune, Maratha empires role in it.
        Akshay our driver was really good as well. After taking many tours throughout India, in Rajasthan, etc, I found 5 senses to be one of the best companies so far - from professional tour guides to great attention to detail.
        Written 1 December 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Jayesh M
        Ahmedabad, India145 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2020
        We have visited the old heritage site, we family enjoyed there and worth to visit the place.You must visit before lunch time which is very good.
        Written 23 January 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you. It was our pleasure
        Written 17 February 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Meenaxy V
        Dubai, United Arab Emirates2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2024 • Family
        The trip was well panned. The guide was very knowledgeable. We had a great time. It was a detailed trip showing us all the different caves and their history. Will definitely repeat.
        Written 10 December 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        sammorgon67
        New York City, NY8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2019 • Business
        Karla and bhaja was a great day spent away from hassle and bustle of Mumbai. We drove to the countryside and the landscape was incredibly beautiful. The caves were 2000 years old and we had a great time exploring them. The guide was phenomenal and we learnt a lot about Buddhism as well. the lunch was local cuisine and very delicious. If you have a full day free then this is the best way to spend it.
        Written 22 December 2019
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for your kind words. I am delighted you enjoyed the 2000 year old trail to Karla and Bhaja caves!
        Written 10 January 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        2000 year old Buddhist trail to Karla & Bhaja Caves as a day trip from Mumbai provided by Five Senses Tours

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