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Kondivite caves: quick facts
| Location (modern) | Kondivite, Jogeshwari-Vikroli Link Road, Mumbai |
| Location (ancient) | Aparanta |
| Period | Early: 1st cent. BCE to 3rd c. CE. (Dahejia 1972, 153) Later phase: 5th cent. CE. |
| Kingdom/dynasty | Satavahanas, Ksatrapas, Vakatakas |
| No. of caves | 20 |
| Religious affiliation | Buddhism |
Kondivate is a protected Archaeological Survey of India monument.
The site. One of the earliest rock-cut monuments excavated in western India. This group has around 20 caves named after a neighbouring village Kondivite locally known as Mahakali located near Jogeshwari-Vikroli link road in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Architecture. The main chaitya, Cave 9, has a unique plan which is comparable to the Lomas Rishi cave. The cave consists of a hall and circular shrine with a monolith stupa which has a domical roof. On the basis of the architectural plan this chaitya can be placed around 100 BC (Dahejia 1972, 153). Other edifices were excavated around 5th-6th century CE. Few of other edifices have hall, cells, benches, beds, and shrines.
Sculpture. Cave 9 has few sculptural reliefs of Buddha and Bodhisattva figures. All these figures are added in the 5th-6th century CE.
Epigraphy. In Cave 9, the main chaitya, has one inscription above the right lattice window which is slightly later addition to the cave.
Module curator: Sandeep Joshi. Photographs: Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh.