Buddhist temple complexes, or chaityas, have evolved into colonnaded halls of worship housing the Buddha's image, which has become an integral part of the Buddhist temple, exemplified by the chaitya at Karli constructed in about 80.

At forty meters (one hundred and thirty feet) long and fifteen meters (forty-nine feet) in height, the Karla Caves site, cut from stone, is the largest such chaitya in India.

The aisle of the temple is flanked by thirty-seven pillars that are topped with kneeling elephants.