Darshan & timings
The temple is open in the morning and again in the evening, with a midday break — roughly 5:00 AM–12:00 PM and 4:00–9:00 PM. Timings can shift on festival days and with the season, so we suggest arriving a little early. See Timings & Aarti.
We perform a morning aarti around dawn and an evening aarti around dusk. The exact moment shifts gently with the season, so plan around dawn or dusk and arrive a little early. You are welcome to reach us through our official channels.
Darshan is free. The adjoining Karla Caves are separately ticketed by the ASI — confirm the current charge on the cave visitor information page.
Getting there & the climb
Karla is off the Mumbai–Pune corridor near Lonavala — Mumbai about 110 km (2–2.5 hrs), Pune about 60 km (~1.5 hrs), Lonavala about 11 km. Malavli is the closest railway station; Lonavala is the larger railhead. See How to Reach.
Roughly 350–500 stone steps depending on where the count begins, about 20–40 minutes at a steady pace. There is no doli-for-hire or ropeway, so plan to climb on foot. See The Climb & Accessibility.
The shrine is reached by a long stairway and there is no assisted-climb facility, so the route is demanding and not wheelchair accessible. Elderly visitors should plan rest stops, carry water, and avoid midday heat and the slippery monsoon. See The Climb & Accessibility.
Dress code & etiquette
Since 7 July 2025 we ask devotees to dress modestly in traditional or decent attire; shorts, mini skirts, ripped jeans and other revealing or Western clothing may be refused. See Guidelines.
Festivals & the caves
The biggest are the Chaitra Yatra/Palkhi (around Chaitra Shuddha Saptami, Mar–Apr) and Navratri (spring and autumn). Dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and change each year — check the festival calendar.
No. The temple is a living Hindu shrine; the Karla Caves are an ancient Buddhist rock-cut complex protected by the ASI. They share the hill but are distinct in history and management, with separate timings and tickets for the caves.