Jogeshwari Caves /जोगेश्वरी केव्स, Mumbai, महाराष्ट्र / Maharashtra State, India.

The visit to Jogeshwari Caves, Mumbai, was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026. Jogeswari Rock Cut Caves are in Andheri District, Mumbai Suburban, near Kanheri Caves, Mumbai.

Jogeshwari Caves, hewn during the 6th century CE, are one of the finest specimens of Brahmanical rock-cut architecture and bear similarity with Elephanta (Cave no.1) and Dhumar lena (Cave no. 29) at Ellora. On plan, it consists of an agra mandapa, a mukha mandapa, and a garbhagriha. Vakataka and later Vakataka influence can clearly be noticed in its architectural planning and sculptural execution. Some scholars believe that the caves were excavated under the patronage of the Maurya of Konkan, Kalachuri (Traikutakas). Jogeshwari cave is adorned with a few beautiful sculptural representations of Lakulisa. Kalyansundarmurti, Shiv Parvati playing dyuta, Natraja, Ravananugraha, Makartornas, ayudhprushas, Dwarapalas, etc.

The main cave dedicated to Shiva, now as a Jogeswari, is inside 

It was declared as a protected monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India, vide gazette notification no. 2704A, dated 26.05. 1009

LOCATION OF THE CAVE: CLICK HERE

 SHIVA's Sannidhi

Ganapati shrine is on the east side entrance

Hanuman is in a separate cave

Window pillars

Jala

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Shri Mahalakshmi Devi Temple, Mumbai, महाराष्ट्र /Maharashtra State, India.

The visit to Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Mumbai was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026. Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is located on the Bhulabhai Desai Road in Breach Candy, Mumbai.

PC - Temple's website

The presiding deities: 

Mahakali/ Durga, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Annapoorani

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east at an elevated level. A flight of steps are constructed to climb up the temple. Dwajasthamba, measuring 10.6 meters tall, is in front of the temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.

Even though this temple is called the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Mahakali / Durga and Saraswati are on both sides. Hence called Tridevi. Shri Mahalakshmi, at the centre, is the principal deity of this temple. All three are with 4 hands, in abhaya hastam. Annapoorna is at the top of the presiding deity.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, with Vimana, Shikara and Kalash, Sabha Mandapa/dancing hall (100 sq. m), ardha Mandapa, and open mukha mandapa. The pillars of the mandapa are adorned with intricate carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology and sacred motifs. The craftsmanship reflects the artistic traditions of Western India's temple-building heritage.

The Shikhara (tower) follows traditional Hindu temple architecture, rising in a graduated pyramidal form. 27 decorative spires adorn the roof, each intricately crafted and adding to the temple's majestic profile.

The temple's golden Kalash (pinnacle) stands proudly at 15 meters, gleaming against the Mumbai skyline and serving as a beacon for devotees from afar. The Kalash is considered the crown of the temple and symbolises the connection between the earthly and the divine.

Dravidian Influence

The temple exhibits characteristics of the Dravidian style commonly found in South Indian temples, including the pyramidal tower structure (Vimana) and the elaborate gateway design. This influence reflects the cultural exchanges along India's western coast.

Nagara Influence

The Nagara style, prevalent in North India, is evident in the curvilinear Shikhara (Bhumija style) and the overall vertical thrust of the temple's silhouette. The fusion of these two traditions creates the distinctive Dravidian-Nagara hybrid architecture style common in Western Indian temples.

Built primarily with stone and featuring intricate carvings, the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple follows the traditional Dravidian-Nagara hybrid architecture style common in Western Indian temples. This unique blend reflects the cultural confluence of North and South Indian temple-building traditions that flourished along the Konkan coast during the early 19th century.

PC - Temple's website

PC - Temple's website

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple at this sacred site is believed to have been first constructed around 1761 by Ramji Shivji Prabhu, a devout Hindu merchant, establishing it as one of the earliest places of worship dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi in the island city of Bombay.

In 1831, the wealthy Hindu merchant Dhakji Dadaji rebuilt and expanded the temple into the grand structure that forms the foundation of the temple we see today. His generous patronage transformed it into a major pilgrimage site in Mumbai.

The dwajassthamba was contributed by the Kanchipuram Sankara Mutt

LEGENDS

The most celebrated legend of the temple is intricately connected to the construction of the Hornby Vellard — an ambitious sea reclamation project undertaken by the British colonial government under Governor William Hornby in the late 18th century. The project aimed to link the seven islands of Bombay by constructing a massive causeway, but the relentless sea kept destroying the construction work time and again.

Frustrated engineers and workers were losing hope, until a local Hindu priest dreamt that an idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi lay hidden beneath the waves. Upon searching, workers miraculously discovered three idol heads in the Arabian Sea — those of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Mahakali, and Goddess Mahasaraswati. A temple was promptly built to enshrine these sacred idols, and remarkably, the sea construction succeeded thereafter without further destruction.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Diwali, Sharad Navratri and Vasanth Navratri days, Akshata Tritiya day, 10 days Ganesh Chatruthi celebration, Fridays, Full Moon days, Amavasya Days, daily in Sharavan Month.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is open daily from 6:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs. Temple remains closed for darshan during Aarti (06.45 hrs to 07.30 hrs, 18.15 hrs to 18.40 hrs and 19.20 hrs to 19.45 hrs) and naivedya timings (11.45 hrs to 12.20 hrs).

CONTACT DETAILS

Website: https://mahalakshmi-temple.com/

The landline number +91222351 3831 may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH

The address of the temple is…

Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai - 400026, Maharashtra, India.

The nearest Railway Station is Mahalakshmi Railway Station, which is about 5 km.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

PC - Temple's website

PC - Temple's website

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport/ Pune International Airport/ पुणे आंतरराष्ट्रीय विमानतळ, Lohegaon, Pune, Maharashtra.

The visit to Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport, Pune, was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026.

HISTORY OF THE PUNE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Established in 1939 as RAF Poona to secure Mumbai during World War II, Pune Airport (PNQ) in Lohegaon transitioned to the Royal Indian Air Force in 1947. Primarily a defence airbase, it later developed civil operations, becoming a major international hub with a new terminal and 24/7 operations, serving Pune's growing infrastructure.

Establishment (1939): The airfield was built by the British as a Royal Air Force base to provide air security to Mumbai.

World War II Era: The base was used for squadrons operating de Havilland Mosquito, Vickers Wellington, and Supermarine Spitfire aircraft.

Post-Independence (1947): The Royal Indian Air Force took charge of the airfield in May 1947.

Civil Operations: The airport evolved from a pure military base into a joint-use airport, handling increasing civilian passenger traffic.

Modernisation: In recent years, it has undergone significant upgrades, including a new, larger terminal building to handle higher capacity, and it functions as a 24/7 airport.

Recent Developments: In September 2024, the airport was officially named Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport by the Maharashtra government.

Future Plans: Due to constraints on expanding the existing defence-linked, land-locked Lohegaon site, a new Greenfield International Airport is proposed in the Purandar area of the Pune district.

The airport is currently operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and features two terminals and a runway of 2,450 meters.

Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj.

He was a revered 17th-century Marathi saint and poet from the Bhakti movement in India. He is particularly associated with the Varkari sect, a devotional tradition dedicated to Lord Vithoba (Vitthal), an incarnation of Vishnu. His philosophy focused on equality, compassion and devotion to God. He rejected the rigid caste system and criticised blind ritualism, emphasising inner spirituality over external practices. His Abhangas (devotional poems) are considered masterpieces of Marathi literature. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rajyaabhishek Ceremony

The great and iconic warrior-King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Kingdom in India. The artwork of his coronation (Rajyaabhishek -held on 6th June 1674) has great significance in the history of Maharashtra and India, as it marks the establishment of an independent Maratha Empire (Hindavi Swarajya) and the resurgence of the Hindu rule in the region during the time of Mughal dominance. The event was much more than just a commemorative event as it displayed high values, vision of the sovereign Maratha State and efforts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to protect his people. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a benevolent ruler who displayed prowess on the battlefield and undertook the nation-building oath when he was only 15. The use of vibrant colours in the artwork speaks volumes of his royalty, popularity and admiration among people. Even today, Maharashtra celebrates his coronation ceremony every year with expansive processions, folk dance and enactments of stories from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The 3D mural has been done in a realistic style with the use of vibrant colours to bring a close representation of the grand event.

LOCATION OF THE AIRPORT: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Kanheri Caves /कान्हेरी गुहा, Mumbai, Maharashtra State /महाराष्ट्र, India. Part – 7, Cave No. 50, and 93.

The visit to Kanheri Rock Cut Cave Nos. 50 and 93, of Mumbai, was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026.

The largest and one of the earliest Buddhist cave complexes in India is located at Kanheri, which lies on the eastern side of Borivali in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai. The name Kanheri has been derived from Kanhagiri in Prakrit, as mentioned in the Nasik inscription of Satvahana king Vashathiputra Pulumavi. In Sanskrit, it is known as Krishnagiri, meaning dark Hills like the colour of Krishna. Kanheri was frequently mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers. It is a unique Buddhist monastic establishment which sheds light on different phases of the development of cave architecture from the 2nd century CE to the 11th century CE. The various Buddhist sects were coeval and flourished at Kanheri, like the Mahasamghikas, Chetiyas, and Parasellyas. Bhadravaniya. Dharmottariyas, Saddharmapundarika sect in Vajrayana Buddhism. The site reflects a beautiful blend of art and architecture of the Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism, with enormous epigraphical data of their respective contemporary period.

 

There are more than 110 caves, hewed out of volcanic breccia (rock composed of broken fragments of minerals), considered as a single rock. These caves spread over half a kilometre in length, hewn on different terrace on either side of a seasonal rivulet. These caves are of two types: chaitya and viharas. The chaitya consists of a sanctum, verandah and outer courtyard approached through a flight of steps with flanking water cisterns on either side. The water cisterns are chiselled in the rock, so that the direct rainwater is channelled into these cisterns. This gives evidence of an ancient rainwater harvesting system. The viharas are architecturally monotypic but variable in size with one or multiple cells, a verandah with two or more pillars in front, and an open courtyard with rock-cut benches along the walls.

  

The cave numbers 3, 11, 34, 41, 67, 87 and 90 are most important and are incepted eloquently with pillars, grilled walls and images. In this article, we are uploading some images of the caves No. 50 and 93 with inscriptions. 

CAVE No. 50.

There are a few sculptures in this Cave. Buddha is shown here in meditation with various mudras. An inscription is found at the entrance of the inner cave. Two jalas with a simple design are on both sides of the entrance to the cave, for natural lighting and ventilation.

Jala

CAVE No. 93.

There are a few sculptures in this Cave. Buddha is shown here in Muchilindra form, i.e. with Cobra hood & inscription on the water cistern.

LOCATION OF THE CAVES: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---