Mahakali Caves

Last updated

Kondivite Caves
Mahakali caves.jpg
Kondivite Caves, Cave 2.
India relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
India Maharashtra relief map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Andheri (East), Near Caves road, Mumbai
Coordinates 19°07′50″N72°52′27″E / 19.130436°N 72.874133°E / 19.130436; 72.874133
Elevation70 m (230 ft)
GeologyBasalt
Entrances20
Difficultyeasy

The Kondivite Caves, are a group of 19 rock-cut monuments built between 1st century BCE and 6th century CE. [1]

Contents

This Buddhist monastery is located in the eastern suburb of Andheri in the city of Mumbai (Bombay) in western India. [2] The monument consists of two groups of rock-cut caves – four 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 the south-eastern group is chaitya. Caves in the northwest have been created mainly in the 4th – 5th century, while the south-eastern group is older. The 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 Kondivite (Cave 9) has seven depictions of the Buddha and figures from Buddhist mythology but all are mutilated. [3]

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. [4] A Direct bus run by the BEST links the caves with Andheri station. The caves were in danger of being encroached upon, but now it is steel fenced on the roadside and walled on the hillside.[ clarification needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jogeshwari</span> Suburb of Mumbai, India

Jogeshwari is a suburb located in the western part of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is notable for its caves - 'Jogeshwari Caves', particularly one containing a shrine of the Hindu Goddess Jogeshwari, Lord Shiva and the deity Hanuman. It belongs to the K/E Ward of Mumbai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai Metro</span> Rapid transit system in Mumbai, India

The Mumbai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region in Maharashtra, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai Suburban district</span> District of Maharashtra in India

Mumbai Suburban district is the second most populous district of Maharashtra in the Konkan Division. With its administrative headquarters in Bandra, the district consists of three subdivisions or tehsils (townships): Kurla, Andheri, and Borivali. The district along with Mumbai City district and other suburban localities make up Greater Mumbai. The district occupies an area of 446 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jogeshwari Caves</span> Caves in Mumbai, India

The Jogeshwari Caves are some of the earliest Hinduism cave temple sculptures located in the Mumbai suburb of Jogeshwari, India. The caves date back to the sixth century, Chalukya dynasty. They were found during the excavation of Ajanta and Elephanta. These caves belong to the Hindu deity Jogeshwari. According to historian and scholar Walter Spink, Jogeshwari is the earliest major cave temple in India and "the largest".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandapeshwar Caves</span>

The Mandapeshwar Caves is an 8th Century rock-cut shrine dedicated to Shiva located near Mount Poinsur in Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. The caves were originally Buddhist viharas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurangabad district, Maharashtra</span> District of Maharashtra in India

Aurangabad district, officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, is one of the 36 districts of the state of Maharashtra in western India. It borders the districts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmednagar to the south. The city of Aurangabad houses the district's administrative headquarters. The district has an area of 10,100 km2, of which 37.55% is urban and the rest is rural. Aurangabad District is a major tourism region in Marathwada, with attractions including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves.

Mahakali is the Hindu goddess of destruction and doomsday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian rock-cut architecture</span> The creation of structures, buildings, and sculptures by excavating solid rock

Indian rock-cut architecture is more various and found in greater abundance in that country than any other form of rock-cut architecture around the world. Rock-cut architecture is the practice of creating a structure by carving it out of solid natural rock. Rock that is not part of the structure is removed until the only rock left makes up the architectural elements of the excavated interior. Indian rock-cut architecture is mostly religious in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Express Highway</span> Motorway in Mumbai

The Western Express Highway, abbreviated to WEH, is a major north–south 8-10 lane arterial road in Mumbai, India, stretching from the suburb of Mira Road to Bandra. The 25.33 km (15.74 mi) highway begins near the Mahim Creek and extends to the Kashimira in the northern limit of the city till it connects National Highway 48 at Ghodbunder village. The road connects the city of Mumbai to its suburbs, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhaja Caves</span> Cave complex in Maharashtra, India

Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC located off the Mumbai - Pune expressway near the city of Pune, India. The caves are 400 feet above the village of Bhaja, on an important ancient trade route running from the Arabian Sea eastward into the Deccan Plateau. The inscriptions and the cave temple are protected as a Monument of National Importance, by the Archaeological Survey of India per Notification No. 2407-A. It belongs to the Early Buddhist schools in Maharashtra. The caves have a number of stupas, one of their significant features. The most prominent excavation is its chaitya, a good example of the early development of this form from wooden architecture, with a vaulted horseshoe ceiling. Its vihara has a pillared verandah in front and is adorned with unique reliefs. These caves are notable for their indications of the awareness of wooden architecture. The carvings prove that tabla – a percussion instrument – was used in India for at least 2300 years, disproving the centuries-held belief that the tabla was introduced to India by outsiders or from Turko-Arab. The carving shows a woman playing tabla and another woman, performing dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barabar Caves</span> Ancient rock-cut caves in India with Ashokan inscriptions

The Barabar Hill Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from the Maurya Empire, some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India, 24 km (15 mi) north of Gaya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Express Highway</span> Motorway in Mumbai and Thane

The Eastern Express Highway, abbreviated to EEH, is a 23.55 km (14.63 mi) city express highway serving the cities of Mumbai and Thane. It is one of the busiest and most important roads in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area and is a part of the National Highway 48. It is a north–south artery of Mumbai connecting the city proper to the eastern suburbs and to the metropolitan area of Thane. For most of its course, it is 6 lanes wide with over a dozen flyovers/grade separators.

Kannamwar Nagar is a locality situated in Vikhroli east, on eastern express highway. Kannamwar Nagar is on the eastern side of the Vikhroli railway station and is known for buildings built by MHADA. It is considered as one of the biggest housing colonies in India and one of the biggest workers housing colonies in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Suburbs (Mumbai)</span> Precinct of Greater Mumbai in Maharashtra, India

The Western Suburbs is the western precinct of the city of Mumbai, India. The Western Suburbs consist of Andheri, Bandra, Marol, Oshiwara Lokhandwala, Borivali, Dahisar, Goregaon, Versova, Jogeshwari, Juhu, Kandivali, Khar, Malad, Sakinaka, Santacruz and Vile Parle. Geographically, the Western Suburbs lie at the western part of Salsette Island, is a continuous urban sprawl spanning the areas from Bandra to Bhayander, which is separated by the Vasai Creek from Vasai-Virar city and Mithi River from Mumbai city district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai)</span> Suburb in Maharashtra, India

East Mumbai consists the localities of Kurla, Vidyavihar Ghatkopar, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Mulund, Nahur, Powai, Chandivali and Vikhroli. To the south-east lie the neighborhoods of Chembur, Govandi, Mankhurd, and Trombay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road</span> Road in Mumbai

The Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), is a 10.6-kilometre-long (6.6 mi) 6-lane road with a central median in Mumbai which connects the Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway providing speedier access from Jogeshwari in the Western Suburbs to Vikhroli in the Eastern Suburbs. It was opened to traffic in 1994, and widened from two to six lanes in 2012 at a cost of 221.45 crore. The under-construction Line 6 of the Mumbai Metro is being constructed on this link road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pitalkhora</span> Ancient Buddhist caves in India

The Pitalkhora Caves, in the Satmala range of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, are an ancient Buddhist site consisting of 14 rock-cut cave monuments which date back to the third century BCE, making them one of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India. Located about 40 kilometers from Ellora, the site is reached by a steep climb down a flight of concrete stairs, past a waterfall next to the caves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Line 6 (Mumbai Metro)</span> Metro line in Mumbai, India

Line 6 (Pink Line) of the Mumbai Metro is a rapid transit metro line in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The 14.477 km (8.996 mi) elevated line will connect Lokhandwala Complex with Vikhroli and will have 13 stations.

References

  1. Jaisinghani, Bella (13 July 2009). "Ancient caves battle neglect". Times of India . Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  2. Kumar, R. (2003). Essays on Indian Art and Architecture. History and culture series. Discovery Publishing House. p. 12. ISBN   978-81-7141-715-5 . Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. Bavadam, Lyla (18–31 July 2009). "In a shambles". Frontline. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. Gaur, Abhilash (25 January 2004). "Pay dirt: Treasure amidst Mumbai's trash". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 September 2008.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Mahakali Caves at Wikimedia Commons