Classical analyses for the lateral load capacity of a single pile consider it to be embedded in a homogeneous medium. However, in most practical scenarios, the foundation soil comprises stratified deposits of varying strength and stiffness, thereby leading to a varying pile-soil interaction along the depth. In this regard, with the aid of a 3D Finite Element (FE) approach, the present study reports the lateral load capacity and response of a cast-in-situ bored concrete pile embedded in a stratified soil media of alternating sandy and clayey soil layers. The developed 3D FE approach is validated through an in-situ experiment conducted for a laterally loaded pile embedded in multilayered substrata. Along with this, the efficacy of the 3D FE approach is also assessed against the semi-analytical approach provided in IS 2911 Part 1/Sec 2 (2010). Further, the influence of soil layering on the lateral response of the pile is investigated through comparative analyses of p-y curves generated along the pile embedded in both homogeneous and layered soil medium. Governed by the layered soil properties, the present study reflects that the soil reaction (p) from homogeneous soil is higher as compared to the same obtained from layered soil strata. Additionally, a comparative study of the 3D continuum model and Winkler soil spring model shows that the continuum nature of surrounding soil mass has a significant impact on the lateral load capacity of the pile and the reaction of the surrounding soil mass, thereby establishing its importance for in-situ pile responses.