Mahakali Caves, Andheri, Mumbai

Mahakali Caves, Andheri, Mumbai

📍 Mumbai, Mumbai, MaharashtraVerified
🧭 Get directionsIn-person counter only
Open
● Open
Closes in 0h 1m
Next aarti
Morning
06:30 · in 571 min
Crowd right now
High
18:00-21:00
Weather
31°C ⛈
0% rain

Today at this temple

ಶನಿವಾರ, ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 25, 2026Sunrise 06:13 · Sunset 18:59
Tithi
dashami
shukla
Nakshatra
Magha
Yoga
Ganda
Abhijit muhurta
12:12–13:00
Today's darshan timeline
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
🔥 Rahu kaal 09:24 – 11:00

Quick facts

Primary deity
Devi
Tradition
shakta
Year founded
ancient
Founder
Ancient Buddhist-era rock-cut caves (1st-6th century CE) at Andheri-East, Mumbai — originally-Hinayana Buddhist monastic caves. Post-Buddhist-decline, some-caves were-reconsecrated as MAHAKALI-DEVI Shakta-shrine; the site takes-its-modern-name from the Devi-shrine. ASI-protected ancient-monument + active-Mahakali-worship. 19 CAVES COMPLEX; mix of Buddhist-architecture with later Hindu-Shakta-adaptation
Managing trust
ASI + local Mahakali Devi Devasthan Trust
Daily footfall
2,000-5,000 daily
Photography
outside_only
Non-Hindu policy
all_welcome
Dress code
Modest attire
Accessibility
👴
VIP darshan
—
Typical visit
60–150 min

Sthala Purana — the story

Translation verification in progress. Showing EN version. Help translate →

Ancient Buddhist-heritage site subsequently-Hindu-Shakta-reconsecrated; combining two-religious-traditions

References: Durga Saptashati Devi-Mahatmya

Darshan & aartis

Sun
06:00–21:00
Mon
06:00–21:00
Tue
06:00–21:30
Wed
06:00–21:00
Thu
06:00–21:00
Fri
06:00–21:30
Sat
06:00–21:00
  • 06:30
    Morning
    30 min · Mangala aarti
  • 19:00
    Evening
    30 min · Sandhya aarti

Plan your visit

✈️ Nearest airport

Mumbai (BOM) — 6 km

🚆 Nearest railway

Andheri (Western Railway) — 2 km

🚌 How to reach locally

Limited; use public transport

🅿️ Parking

Limited; use public transport

🏨 Where to stay

Andheri hotels (2 km)

🍽 Prasad & food

Andheri restaurants

🧘 Best time to visit

Year-round. Sharadiya Navratri and Kali-Puja peak

🎒 What to carry
  • Red-hibiscus, kumkum
  • Combine with pan-Mumbai Kali-pilgrimage + Siddhivinayak

Deity & iconography

Height of murti
60 cm
Vahana
Sinha
Adornments
Mahakali-Devi murti in one-of-the-rock-cut-caves; traditional red-silk, gold-ornaments, kumkum. The broader 19-caves-complex includes ancient Buddhist-monastic-cells, chaityas (prayer-halls), and viharas (residences) — the archaeological-heritage is significant. The Mahakali-shrine-cave is the primary-devotional-focus today
Consorts on panel
None primarily (Mahakali autonomous)
Favored bhoga
Red-hibiscus, coconut, kumkum-haldi-sindoor, Bengal-Kali-style offerings (for Kali-Puja-observance)
Mantras chanted here
Om Krim Kalikaaye Namah · Durga Saptashati · Kali-Mahamantra
Worship purpose
Mumbai-area Kali-Mahakali devotional-destination; Sharadiya Navratri and Kali-Puja observances; ASI-archaeological-Buddhist-heritage + Hindu-Shakta-reconsecration site; Andheri-East-Mumbai accessible pilgrimage

Architecture & art

Ancient 1-6 c. CE Buddhist rock-cut caves with later Hindu-adaptation

Style
1st-6th century CE Hinayana Buddhist rock-cut caves (19 caves total) on Andheri-East-Mumbai hillside. Post-Buddhist-decline, some-caves reconsecrated as Mahakali-Shakta-shrine. ASI-protected monument with active-worship. Ancient chaitya-vihara architecture
Built of
Natural basalt rock — carved Buddhist-era caves
Notable features
Ancient 1-6 c. CE BUDDHIST ROCK-CUT CAVES · 19-caves complex · Mahakali Shakta-reconsecration · ASI-protected archaeological monument + active-Mahakali-worship · Andheri-East Mumbai accessible
Protection status
asi_protected

History timeline

  1. 1st-6th c. CE

    Buddhist monastic rock-cut caves carved

  2. post-medieval

    Post-Buddhist decline; Mahakali Shakta-reconsecration

  3. Post-1947

    ASI-protected + active-worship

Special phenomena

Buddhist-to-Hindu reconsecration heritage

Rare example of ancient Buddhist monastic-caves subsequently-reconsecrated as active Hindu-Shakta-shrine; both archaeological-heritage and living-devotion coexist

Poojas & sevas offered here

No bookable poojas listed yet

Festivals & signature events

  • Sharad Navratri
    Annual
    Signature

Location & nearby temples

Scriptural references

Durga Saptashati
Devi-Mahatmya
Daily recitation

Sources & credits

✓ Verified by 2026-04-25. Seeded from training + Wikipedia + ASI. 1-6 c. CE Buddhist-era dating scholarly-consensus. Video metadata intentionally empty.

  • Mahakali Caves — source · CC-BY-SA 4.0
✓ Last verified 2026-04-25
en