Carlee, Or Karli, a village of Hindostan, in the collectorate of Poonah, presidency of Bombay, 40 m. E. of Bombay. It is remarkable for a Buddhist cave temple, hewn from the face of a precipice, about two thirds of the way up a steep hill which rises 800 ft. above the plain. A noble arch spans the entrance to the excavation, and on each side of the door is a screen work, covered with naked male and female figures carved in alto-rilievo. In front are three lions placed back to back, on the top of a pillar; around the portico are several well executed figures of elephants of great size, each surmounted by a mohout and a howdah containing two persons. The length of the temple is 130 ft., width 40 ft. The interior has a double row of sculptured pillars, terminating in a semicircle, and with its high arched roof is not unlike that of a Gothic cathedral. Near it are several smaller excavations, apparently intended as cells for hermits. These are dilapidated, but the temple is well preserved. The only object of devotion to be seen is the mystical chattah or umbrella.

Cave Temple at Carlee.

Cave Temple at Carlee.