Kondivita Caves

INDIA, Maharashtra, Mumbai

Also known as Kondiviti Caves or Mahakali Caves, these caves are located on the northern outskirts of Mumbai. They were created around the late 2nd century BCE. Sixteen caves comprise this site, with one caitya cave, some vihara caves, and several cells.
Cave 9 is a caitya cave with an apsidal layout. Measuring 5.3 m wide, 2.8 m high, and 9.3 m deep, the cave features a doorway leading to a shrine carved into the center of the back wall, with latticed windows on both sides. The shrine houses a stupa encircled by a circumambulation path. An inscription is carved on the left window. Two large niches on the right wall display a standing Buddha, and a Buddha seated with legs pendent and flanked by attendant Bodhisattvas. Smaller niches located above and to the right of the two niches house seated Buddhas in either full lotus position or with legs pendent.