Western Ghats

The Western Ghats rise west of Pune as a steep boundary between the Deccan plateau and the Konkan coast. Monsoon rain feeds streams on their wooded slopes, while passes such as Bor Ghat carry routes between the inland plain and the sea. Hill forts crown the ridges and command the approaches to Pune. The Buddhist caves at Bhaja and Karla near the old route through the hills testify to the long history of travel and patronage along these mountain passages.