Dungeshwari Cave - Bodhgaya

Dungeshwari Cave also known as Mahakala Cave, is the site where Buddha Siddharta spent 6 years in severe penance as an ascetic before he attained enlightenment. It locates on a small ridge in Dungeshwari Hills along Falgu River, 12km north of Mahabodhi Temple. It was believed to be found within 7th to 10th century. There are three caves at site in which one is Hindu and two are Buddhist.



The little shrine inside Dungeshwari cave housed a gilded skeleton-like image of Buddha and another two images of which Mahayanists believed to be Goddess of Mercy and Hindu worship them as Goddess deity Dungeshwari. Another cave enshrines a Buddha Image after enlightenment.



The site of the caves are said to have strong mysterious sense with sheer energy.



Pilgrim Monks usually spent some time sitting at the mouth of the cave, doing recitation of Buddhist verses and meditation.



The little entrance of the cave is just half of my size.



This was the spot where Prince Sihharta underwent years of self-mortification before descending down to Bodhgaya for true realization.



There is a small temple in front of the cave and some structures like Tibetan stupa and an earth urn which we think was keeping with some masters ashes.



Rows of woman and young beggars squatting along two sides of the sloping ridge towards Dungeshwari Cave, desperately looking for alms from the visitors.



Villages at the foot of Dungeshwari Hills.



The terrified condition of the way leading to Dungeshwari temple is beyond imagination and further, pilgrimage visitors have to face problem with those local teenagers who stopped your vehicles and demanded for big donations.



The land is flat and fertile. We wondered why people here still prefer to beg and rob.



While bumping all way through these unconditioned roads, we captured a sight of an ancient mosque which was said to be the first mosque built in East India.



Crossing over the heavily traffic bridge included hundreds of sheep. They were just running next to all vehicles.






Incrementation sites by the bank of river.



Leaving Bodhgaya for Nalanda via highway that took us hours to go through as the road is fully occupied by the unmoved tracks. This is a very common situation in all parts of India.