Mahakali Caves - Ancient Buddhist Caves in Mumbai

Mumbai, MaharashtraCAVE

A group of 19 ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves in Mumbai's Andheri suburb, featuring viharas (monk cells) and a chaitya (prayer hall) from the 1st century BCE.

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Info

CAVE

Info

1-2 hours

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

The Mahakali Caves, also known as the Kondivite Caves, are a group of 19 rock-cut monuments carved out of a solid black basalt hill in the Andheri suburb of Mumbai. This complex served as a Buddhist monastery from the 1st century BCE to the 6th century CE. The caves are separated into two main groups. The southern group consists of four smaller caves, while the main group to the northwest has fifteen caves.

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Location & Address

Mahakali Caves Road, Sunder Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather in Mumbai is cool and pleasant, making it comfortable to explore the outdoor site. Avoid the peak summer months of April and May due to high heat and humidity. The monsoon season, from June to September, brings heavy rainfall which can make the rocky paths slippery, but the surrounding area becomes lush and green.
Peak Crowd: November-February on weekends and public holidays, due to pleasant weather.
Moderate Crowd: October, March, and weekday afternoons throughout the year.
Low Crowd: April-June due to summer heat, and July-September during the heavy monsoon season.

How to Reach

Air

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is the nearest airport, located just 5-6 km away. It takes about 20-30 minutes to reach by taxi or auto-rickshaw.

Train

Andheri Railway Station is the closest major railway station, about 3 km away. It is a key station on both the Western Line and Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network.

Road

The caves are located just off the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), providing excellent road connectivity. It is easily accessible by car or taxi from all parts of Mumbai.

Local Transport

The most convenient way to reach is by auto-rickshaw or cab from Andheri station. BEST buses also have routes that stop near Mahakali Caves Road. The Mumbai Metro's Line 1 (Western Express Highway station) is also a good option.