The Caves of Mandapeshwar - History beckons!
Situated in Poinsur Hill, and carved out of it, the Mandapeshwar caves date back to around 550 AD. Bombay (now called Mumbai) has a number of caves, mainly carved out of the rocks by Buddhist monks. (Poinsur Hill, or Mount Poinsur is supposed to a be a derivation of Mandapeshwar, "Mount Poinsur" = "Mandap Eshwar" phonetically so similar!) Situated at the banks of the Dahisar river, Mandapeshwar Caves were connected to Kanheri Caves by the riverway. (The river has since changed tracks and instead of the navigable waterway it has become a nullah). On entering the complex, from afar you are greeted by the frontal pillars of the Mandap. These pillars are worn off, but still somehow gives the feeling of supporting the rocks above. The main cave or the Mandap Though the Mandap is the largest complex, there is a smaller complex to the left of it. This smaller complex is roughly hewn into the rock and bereft of any carvings. On all probabilities it was used as residential q...