Mahakali Caves

Mahakali Caves just above Andheri East are quite a lovely place to escape the noise and chaos of the city and find some peace, but they are nothing short of a secret architectural and historical treasure. James Campbell called these caves 'Kondivite Caves' because they are so close to the village of Kondivite. These ancient caves are some of the most intriguing places to see in Mumbai.

A group of 19 holes cut into the rock is 2,000 years old and used to be a Buddhist temple. Artisans carved these "chaityas" and "viharas" out of stones between the 1st century BC and the 6th century AD. They are Buddhist churches and temples.

Ancient Buddhist Connection

Monks from the Hinayana branch of Buddhism lived in the caves and used them as schools, churches, and homes. The writings in the Brahmi and Pali languages also make the caves famous. These writings tell us a lot about the time's religion, history, and society.

The caves were left empty and forgotten for hundreds of years. It wasn't until the 19th and 20th centuries that British and Indian researchers found them again and fixed them up.

Mahakali Caves Unique Rock-Cut Architecture

This Buddhist Monastery in Andheri's eastern neighbourhood has two rock-cut caves: four northwest and fifteen southeast. Viharas and monastic cells dominate these caverns. Only cave 9 is chaitya and has damaged Buddhist iconography and seven Buddha images.

The Mahakali caves contain 20 openings. The northwestern caverns are younger than the southeastern ones. Some caverns have verandas and patios. Two of the four Northwest caverns were dwellings, and one was a dining room. The following group comprises a chapel, cave 9, shrines, and dwellings.

Mahakali Caves Significance of Inscriptions

Inscriptions in the Mahakali Caves tell us a lot about the events and society of that time. One important engraving says that someone from the nearby town of Paspauli gave money to build the Vihara at Mahakali.

These findings show that the caves were kept up by gifts from the nearby towns, showing how the abbey was linked to the communities. The caves were part of a busy network of monasteries that linked them to the Kanheri Caves, another important Buddhist site to visit during the Mumbai tour package.

Conservation Efforts and Challenges

Several important changes have happened to the Mahakali Caves over the years. When one of the stupas, which was built as a Buddhist memory, fell from the caves to the foothill, it was worshipped as a Hindu lingam figure and was known as the Mahakali Mandir.

The turn of events illustrates how faith-acts are ever-changing and that Indian faith is an amalgamation of different ideas. Although climate and people have done severe damage over the ages, nevertheless, people have also tried to conserve the caves. The area is well kept with guest facilities like portable toilets and a garden with shade trees.