Mahakali Cave

Mahakali caves also known as Kondivita caves, they are around 2000 years old and are believed to have been built in the 1st and 6th centuries. The architecture of the caves is Indian rock-cut architecture. They are classical caves carved in black basalt, the result of lava solidifying after a volcanic eruption. There are even fewer wall inscriptions in the Pali language, which is older than Sanskrit. The caves are concentrated into two areas with 20 entrances and are divided into two large groups with a total of 19 caves

The first group has 15 caves in the southeast direction while the second group has four caves in the northwest direction. The first group in the southeast was carved earlier than the second group in the northwest. The caves have Buddha images, stone stupas and some carvings of the Buddha on the walls of the cave, along with some scriptures in Pali. These include the residence, veranda, courtyard, chapel, an important cave number 9 and several temples.

The other group is located in the northwest with only four caves and one of them is used as a dining place and the other cave is a living place.

The space between these two groups of caves has several broken tombstones along with a monument and a small auditorium like a school. This whole 'cave society' will give a glimpse into the life of the ancient people.

Originally a Buddhist monastery, these caves are also considered as prisons for Buddhist monks.

The ninth cave of Mahakali is the largest of the fifteen caves, which is a prayer hall. It contains seven statues of the Buddha as well as several depictions from Buddhist mythology, which are however no longer intact.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:00