Mahakali caves
About Mahakali caves
Far From City: 6 kms from city center
Cost:
About Mahakali caves
Weather:
Time Required:Less than 1 hour
Open Time:9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Architecture or Mahakali Caves
Located in the eastern suburb of Andheri, this Buddhist Monastery consists of two groups of rock-cut caves; which composes of four caves in the northwest direction, while the rest fifteen caves in the southeasterly direction. Most of these caves are viharas and cells for monks. Only cave number 9 is chaitya and contains mutilated figures from the Buddhist mythology as well as the seven depictions of Buddha. The Mahakali caves in total have twenty entrances. The south-eastern group of caves is older than the north-western group of caves. Some caves even consist of verandahs and courtyards. In the North-West category, two of the four caves were used as dwelling while one was used as a dining place. The next group has a chapel, the significant cave 9, few shrines, and some dwelling places.
The area between both the groups of caves consists of several broken tombstones. There are a few more fascinating rock-cut monuments including a small auditorium made for teacher and his disciples. Several broken stone steps from the west lead down to the southern group of caves.
Cave number 9
Cave number 9, Chaitya is a unique cave out of the fifteen caves. Being the largest cave at Kondivite, it has seven depictions of Lord Buddha and several other figures from Buddhist mythology. Sadly all of these have now been mutilated. Part of the southeastern group of caves, it has a peculiar plan and is evidently one of the oldest in the group. It composes of an inner shrine and a stupa which is enclosed in a curved wall, 8 inches thick and has a central door along with a latticed window on either side. It has a 2.34 m high dagoba comprising of four holes on the top of the umbrella.
The shrine has a hemispherical dome, and the stupa which it contains is now erroneously considered to be a lingam. Over the window on the right side lies a two-line inscription in Pali. These inscriptions belong to the 3d century AD. It reads as: "Gift of a Vihar, with his brother, by Pittimba a Brahman of the Gotamas gotra, an inhabitant of Pachi Kama." Moreover, there is also a carved panel of Buddha along with his attendants and other figures.
How to Reach Mahakali caves
Several local buses operate from Saibaba Mandir Marol Bus Station, Takshila Bus Station, Model Town (Majas) Bus Station, Holy Spirit Hospital Bus Station etc. making these caves an easy reach. Furthermore, local trains being the heart of the city, you can take a train to Jogeshwari and Andheri which are the nearest railway stations. From here you can take a taxi or an auto to reach the caves.
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