Mahakali Caves

Beautifully carved out of black

basalt rock, the Mahakali Caves just outside

Mumbai

are one of the few places in the world to see ancient cave dwellings within the borders of a bustling metropolis. These rock-cut caves have existed since the ancient Ashoka Empire, used by Buddhist monks as dwellings and meditation chambers as much as 2,000 years ago.

There are 19 caves in total, believed to have been carved between the first and sixth centuries. There are also several cisterns cut from the same rock. Most of the caves are simple and small, with minimal carvings or ornamentation—stark chambers were used as dwellings for the monks and a place to meditate. The exception is the

chaitya

, the main Buddhist shrine and prayer hall, which is adorned with stupas and large carved statues of Buddha idols. Some of the cave walls have scriptures carved in Pali, a language considered older even than Sanskrit.

Strangely, the modern name of these Buddhist caves, Mahakali, refers to the Hindu goddess Kali. This is something of a misnomer, and likely comes from the fact that there is a Hindu temple to Kali nearby. The site is also known as the Kondivite Caves, after the nearby Kondivite village. Interestingly, one of the stupas originally erected as a Buddhist monument is now revered as a Hindu lingam statue.