Mandapeshwar Caves

Getting there

• By air

  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Dahisar railway station is within walking distance of the caves.

• By road

  The caves are close to a busy road.

Why devotees come here

Mandapeshwar Caves are a rock-cut shrine to Shiva on Mount Poinsur in Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai. The principal cave holds a lingam and a carved Nandi bull. The shrine is dated to the 8th century, and the caves are protected as an archaeological heritage site.

Mandapeshwar Caves are a rock-cut shrine to Shiva, set on Mount Poinsur in Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra. The shrine itself is dated to the 8th century. The caves are a much smaller set than the Kanheri Caves, and they sit in Borivali West. The front of the principal cave is a rectangular opening with four pillars.

Inside, the side chambers hold shrines to Ganesha, Hanuman and the nine planetary deities, known as Navagraha. The carvings include Nataraja, Sadashiva and Ardhanarishvara sculptures. They mix Buddhist and Hindu traditions, a sign of how both shaped the culture of ancient India.

Ruins above the caves belonged to a much older church, built in 1544. Steps lead up to the cave front. The caves are now declared an archaeological heritage site, and they are protected under law. When the caves were first used, Mumbai was known as Kalyanpuri, a place of trade and commerce. The caves themselves are believed to be 1,500 to 1,600 years old.

Tips for your visit

• Look through the large square window at the south end of the caves to find a carved scene of Shiva's marriage to Parvati.
• Shrines to Ganesha, Hanuman and Navagraha, the nine planetary deities, are in the side chambers.

Questions people ask