First Century Mahakali Caves in Andheri East in Mumbai
Despite working in Mumbai for nearly a decade, I have just lately begun to explore the city in the way I should have done much sooner. Take Mahakali Road in Andheri East, for example. I’ve been here a thousand times previously for business meetings. Mahakali Caves, on the other hand, were never mentioned to me. Even if you strike up a conversation with the auto drivers, they will usually tell you all you need to know about the area. There isn’t a single reference of Mahakali Caves, though.
While scouring the internet for Mumbai landmarks, I came across this marvel. Who would have known that buried amongst Mumbai’s busiest business and industrial lanes lies a network of 1st-century caves worth seeing? When I initially arrived, I was surprised to see that Mahakali Caves, is a well-kept edifice with a wonderfully groomed landscape and there is no entry fee to visit it. This might be the cave for you if you’re looking for adventure and also some physical exercise.
However, before you embark on your adventure, you should be aware that these caves are also known as the Kondivite Caves. The Kondivite or the Mahakali Caves are a group of 19 rock-cut caves built between the 1st and 6th centuries BC. It’s typically a Buddhist monastery made up of two sets of rock-cut caves in all of its magnificence. 15 of the caves are located in the southeast, while the remaining four are located in the northwest.
When touring the Southeastern caves – stop by the 9th cave, which is a Chaitya, unlike the rest of the viharas. A Chaitya-Griha is a shrine with a stupa on one end and Viharas (Buddhist temples or monasteries) on the other. During my tour, I discovered that the Mahakali (Kondivite) Caves’ North-Western side was constructed later in the 4th and 5th centuries.
On the other hand, the Southeastern Caves were built in the first century. None of these caves, however, are as fascinating as the ninth, which has seven disfigured representations of the Buddha from Buddhist legend.
I enjoyed watching the caves’ characteristic building style in between the leisurely treks and the rock-cut cisterns. Each is expertly cut from solid black basalt rock, transporting me back in time. This steel-fenced cave complex is located on a mountaintop on the Mahakali Caves Road, which is named after it and is home to Buddhist monks.
