Mahakali Caves, or the Kondyvita cave monastery, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples. The exact date of the monastery's foundation is unknown; the cave chambers were inhabited by monks from the 1st century BC to the 9th century AD.
Titanic labor went into the creation of 19 caves: all of them were carved by hand into a rocky ridge of hard black basalt. Stone columns and statues of perfect form with astonishing detail amaze with the delicacy of the work of ancient masters.
The caves are divided into two groups: 15 older caves face southeast, while 4 newer caves - dating approximately to the 5th century AD, face northwest. Based on the decoration and layout of the cave rooms, one can assume where the viharas - the monks' cells, were, and where the main temple, meditation hall, or classroom for training novices was located.
Today the Mahakali Caves are in a somewhat neglected state; they have long ceased to be used as active religious premises. Restoration work has been ongoing for several years, and at the moment not all premises have yet been fully put in order. Nevertheless, there are enough Buddhist relics here to appreciate the full significance of this sacred place, not to mention the stunning atmosphere of antiquity and eternity.
