# Caves in Mumbai

> Mumbai's ancient caves: Kanheri's 109 Buddhist caves, Elephanta's Shiva temples, plus Mahakali, Jogeshwari, Mandapeshwar and Magathane. Timings, tickets, Monday closures and how to reach each.

- Location: Mumbai, Konkan division, Maharashtra, India
- location: Five in the northern suburbs, one on Elephanta Island in the harbour
- Fees: Free to about ₹40 for Indians; Kanheri also needs a national park ticket, Elephanta a ferry ticket
- Good for: Half-day trips inside the city, history lovers, families
- Last updated: 2026-11-08
- Source: https://trekmaharashtra.com/caves-in-mumbai/

**Mumbai has nearly 130 ancient caves, and most people who live here have seen two at most.** Monks and stone-cutters worked these hills for more than a thousand years, from Buddhist monasteries on the old trade routes to Shiva temples cut deep into the rock. Here are the six worth your time, from a UNESCO island to a cave temple hidden among apartment blocks.

## The 6 caves at a glance

| Caves | Where | Faith | Closed | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanheri | Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali East | Buddhist | Mondays | Park ticket + ASI ticket |
| Elephanta | Elephanta Island, by ferry | Hindu (Shiva) | Mondays | Ferry + ASI ticket |
| Mahakali (Kondivite) | Andheri East | Buddhist | Being checked | Small ASI ticket |
| Jogeshwari | Jogeshwari East | Hindu (Shiva) | Being checked | Being checked |
| Mandapeshwar | Borivali West | Hindu, first Buddhist | Being checked | Free |
| Magathane | Borivali East | Buddhist | Not a visitor site | — |

*Fees change: at the last reports the ASI charged about ₹20–40 for Indians at these sites, more for foreign visitors, with children under 15 free.*

## The big two

**1. Kanheri Caves.** The largest cave group in Mumbai and one of the largest in India: 109 caves cut into a forested hill inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, used by Buddhist monks from about the 1st century to the 10th century CE. Look for the great prayer hall with its stupa and stone pillars, and the halls lined with carved Buddhist sculptures and reliefs. Kanheri was a famous centre of learning: the great Buddhist teacher Atisha studied meditation here in the late 10th century.

*Getting there:* Kanheri is about 5–7 km inside the park's main gate in Borivali East. Most visitors park at the gate and take the park bus, about 15 minutes. You pay for the park entry and, at the caves, an ASI ticket. The park and the caves are closed on Mondays. Go early on a weekday; weekends are crowded.

**2. Elephanta Caves (Gharapuri).** A UNESCO World Heritage Site on an island in Mumbai harbour: seven rock-cut caves in two groups, carved between the 5th and 8th centuries. The main cave is a large Shiva temple filled with carved panels from the Shiva stories. Two of the smaller caves are Buddhist.

*Getting there:* Ferries leave the Gateway of India from 9 am and take about an hour; the last boats to the island leave in the early afternoon, so start early. There are also boats from Belapur jetty in Navi Mumbai. From the jetty, about 120 steps lead up to the caves. The caves and the ferries are closed on Mondays.

## In the suburbs

**3. Mahakali Caves (Kondivite Caves).** Nineteen Buddhist caves on a low hill in Andheri East, in two groups: four in the north-west, cut in the 4th–5th century, and fifteen older ones to the south-east. Cave 9 is a chaitya (prayer hall). The ASI keeps the garden and paths tidy, and it is a surprisingly quiet hour in the middle of the city. Take a BEST bus or auto from Andheri station; the Metro Line 3 station at SEEPZ is close. Recent visitors report a small ticket, sometimes sold online only, so keep your phone handy.

**4. Jogeshwari Caves.** One of the earliest great Hindu cave temples in India, cut around 520–550 CE. The historian Walter Spink called it the largest Hindu cave temple by length. A long hall of rock pillars leads to a Shiva linga, and the goddess Jogeshwari, who gives the suburb its name, is still worshipped here. It is an active temple, so dress and behave as you would at any shrine. About 2–3 km from Jogeshwari station (east side) by auto.

**5. Mandapeshwar Caves.** A small 6th–8th century cave temple at the foot of Mount Poinsur in Borivali West, first cut by Buddhist monks and later carved for Shiva. Look for the panels of a dancing Shiva, a three-headed Brahma and Vishnu on Garuda. In the 16th century the Portuguese turned it into a church; the ruins of the old church still stand on top of the caves. Entry is free. Take an auto from Borivali station.

**6. Magathane Caves.** Buddhist caves from the 5th–6th century, once linked to Kanheri, now hidden inside a crowded settlement off Dattapada Road in Borivali East. They are badly eroded and not looked after as a monument, so I list them for the history, not as a day out. If you go, go with respect: people live right around them.

## Two half-days in Mumbai

**1. Kanheri morning (Tuesday to Sunday).** Be at the national park gate when it opens, take the first bus up, and have the caves almost to yourself. On the way back, stop at Mandapeshwar in Borivali West.

**2. Elephanta (Tuesday to Sunday).** Take a 9 or 10 am ferry from the Gateway of India, give the island 2 hours, and be back in Colaba for lunch.

**And on a Monday,** when Kanheri and Elephanta are shut, pair Mahakali and Jogeshwari: they are a few kilometres apart in the eastern suburbs.

## Before you go

- **Mind the Mondays.** Kanheri and Elephanta are both closed.
- **Start early.** The walk at Kanheri and the steps at Elephanta are hot by noon, and the morning light is best for the carvings.
- **Carry water and wear grippy shoes.** The rock is uneven and slippery after rain.
- **Respect the monuments.** No touching, climbing or writing on the carvings. Jogeshwari and Mandapeshwar are places of worship.
- **Ticket prices change.** I give the fees as last reported; check at the counter.

Heading out of the city? See my list of [caves near Pune](https://trekmaharashtra.com/caves-near-pune/), including Karla and Bhaja, and my guide to the [200+ caves of Junnar](https://trekmaharashtra.com/junnar-caves/).

Going on foot? See my [cave treks in Maharashtra](https://trekmaharashtra.com/cave-treks-maharashtra/), from easy Kondana to the climb at Dhak Bahiri.

## Questions people ask

### How many caves are there in Mumbai?

Nearly 130 rock-cut caves. Most of them, 109, are at Kanheri in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The other main groups are Elephanta, Mahakali, Jogeshwari, Mandapeshwar and Magathane.

### Which caves in Mumbai are closed on Monday?

Kanheri (with the whole national park) and Elephanta (with its ferries) are closed on Mondays. Plan those for any other day.

### Which Mumbai caves are best for a first visit?

Kanheri if you want a half day of forest and history, Elephanta if you want the great Shiva sculptures and a boat ride. If you have only an hour, Mahakali or Jogeshwari are right in the suburbs.

### Can I visit Kanheri caves by car?

Usually not all the way. Most visitors park at the main gate of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and take the park bus to the caves, about 15 minutes away. Check the current rules at the gate.

### How long does Elephanta take?

Plan half a day: about an hour each way on the ferry from the Gateway of India, plus 2 hours on the island. Take a morning boat; the last boats to the island leave in the early afternoon.