Mahakali Caves

Mahakali Caves
Mahakali Caves
Location	Andheri (East), Mumbai
Coordinates	19°07′50″N 72°52′27″E / 19.130436°N 72.874133°E / 19.130436; 72.874133Coordinates: 19°07′50″N 72°52′27″E / 19.130436°N 72.874133°E / 19.130436; 72.874133
Altitude	70 m (230 ft)
Geology	Basalt
Entrances	20
Difficulty	easy

Buddha's Holy Sites
Pilgrimage to

The Four Main Sites
Bodh Gaya Kushinagar Lumbini Sarnath
Four Additional Sites
Rajgir Sankassa Shravasti Vaishali
Other Sites
Chandavaram Devadaha Gaya Kapilavastu Kesaria Kosambi Nalanda Pataliputra Pava Varanasi
Later Sites
Ajanta Caves Barabar Caves Bharhut Ellora Caves Lalitgiri Mathura Pandavleni Caves Piprahwa Ratnagiri Sanchi Udayagiri Vikramashila

The Mahakali Caves (also known as the Kondivite Caves) are a group of 19 rock-cut monuments built between 1st century BCE and 6th century CE.^[1]

This Buddhist monastery is located in the eastern suburb of Andheri in the city of Mumbai (Bombay) in western India. Monument consists of two groups of rock-cut caves - 4 caves more to the north-west and 15 caves more to the south-east. Most caves are viharas and cells for monks, but Cave 9 of south-eastern group is chaitya. Caves in north-west have been created mainly in 4th - 5th century, while south-eastern group is older. Monument contains also rock-cut cisterns and remnants of other structures.

Caves are carved out of a solid black basalt rock,(volcanic trap breccias, prone to weathering).

The largest cave at Mahakali (Cave 9) has seven depictions of the Buddha and figures from Buddhist mythology but all are mutilated.^[2]

It is located near the junction between the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road and SEEPZ. The road that connects these monuments to Andheri Kurla Road is named Mahakali Caves Road after it. The caves are located on a hill that overlooks the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road and the SEEPZ++ area.^[3] A Direct bus run by the BEST links the caves with Andheri station. The caves was in danger of being encroached upon, now it is steel fenced on the road side and walled on the hill side.

Mahakali caves
Buddha Stupa in Mahakali Caves

References

↑ Jaisinghani, Bella (13 July 2009). "Ancient caves battle neglect". Times of India. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
↑ Bavadam, Lyla (Jul 18–31, 2009). "In a shambles". Frontline. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
↑ Gaur, Abhilash (2004-01-25). "Pay dirt: Treasure amidst Mumbai’s trash". The Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

External links

Media related to Mahakali Caves at Wikimedia Commons

Caves around Mumbai

Elephanta Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves

Indian Buddhist caves

Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramatheertham Caves Sankaram Undavalli caves

Bihar	Barabar Caves Lomas Rishi Cave Saptaparni Cave

Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Bava Pyara caves Kadia Dungar caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot caves Talaja Caves

Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava caves Mangalore

Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Dharmrajeshwar Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Gandharpale Caves Ghorawadi Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Lenyadri Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Nadsur Caves Nenavali Caves Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Pitalkhora Shelarwadi Caves Shirwal Caves Shivneri Caves Thanale Caves Tulja Caves Wai Caves

Odisha	Udayagiri, Odisha

Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves

Tamil Nadu	Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram

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Mahakali Caves

See also

References

External links