A day trip to clear the mind and rejuvenate the soul.
Time Required : Trail - 1.5 to 2.5 hours | Caves - 2 to 3 hours
Entry fee : Indian - INR 15 | Foreigners - INR 200
Where : Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Website : Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Despite living in Mumbai for so many years, I have never had the chance to visit these magnificent Caves until some of my friends suggested a trip to Kanheri Caves. It was a spontaneous plan and a perfect antidote to escape the hustle-bustle city life.
The Kanheri caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments nestled inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai-Maharashtra, the caves are surrounded by lush green forest. You can either choose to trek, drive, take a bus ride or even cycle up to here. The vehicles are allowed till the entry gate of the caves.
Since it was a short trail of about 5-7 kms, we decided to go on foot. About 10 mins walk from the entry point of SGNP we were greeted by the serene lake. You can enjoy boating in the lake. After spending some time at the lake we continued our journey towards the cave.
Pro tip: if you are planning to take the trail then I will advise you to start early to beat the scorching Mumbai heat.
After about 1.5 hrs we reached the entry gate of the caves, took the entrance tickets and continued our adventure. The access to the caves is through stairways that are as ancient as the caves.
Architecture of Kanheri Caves.
The word ‘Kanheri’ is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ or 'Kanha-giri', which means Krishna's home (Krishna implies the dark one). The caves are carved into the black basalt rock, hence, the name
This ancient cave houses about 109 Buddha Viharas (Buddhist Monastery). It was the place for worship, meditation, learning centre and pilgrimage site for Buddhist monks.
According to inscriptions on the caves, the historians and archaeologist believe that the caves are dated back between the 2nd century CE and 9th Century CE.
Inside the caves there are viharas and stupas. Buddhist shrines featuring ancient paintings, sculptural panels and inscriptions depicting the history of Buddhism in Maharashtra. The inscriptions are in 3 different ancient scripts - Brahmi, Devanagari and Pahlavi.
Kanheri cave is the only site in western India to have artistic evidence of all the three vehicles of Buddhism — the three phases of the religion in India i.e.
- Hinayana (no-image worship practice),
- Mahayana Buddhists (accepted image worship).
- Vajrayana Buddhism (a series of secret practices of worship to attain quick - Buddhahood (enlightenment).
Significance of some of the Caves
▪️Caves 1, 2, 3 - Chaitya hall with a large stupa
▪️Cave 3 - contains maximum number of intact carvings and Buddha statues.
▪️Cave 4 - Oldest caves
▪️Cave 5 and 6 - Water cistern
▪️Cave 11 - Darbar hall
▪️Cave 34 - an unfinished painting of Buddha on the ceiling
▪️Cave 41 - Houses eleven-headed bodhisattva Avalokitesvara that symbolises a gradual move towards enlightenment
▪️Cave 67 - has another statue of Avalokitesvara and has scenes from Jataka tales too.
▪️Cave 90 - known to have the oldest preserved mandala (from 6th century CE) and is the darkest caves.
After exploring the caves, climb on the topmost part for the panoramic view of the forest and Mumbai city.
Buddhism was gradually lost in Maharashtra by 1560, which led to the abandonment of the caves. For 300 to 400 years, they remained in a dilapidated condition. Later, the Archeological Survey of India decided to take over, revive and conserve the heritage site.
Sitting in these centuries old caves, just a few kilometres from the madness of Mumbai city, still gives a divine feeling.
Best time to visit
You can explore Kanheri caves throughout the year, I think winter months are ideal time to visit the caves-
Winter (December-February)
The weather is pleasant and the trails are dry. You can explore the caves comfortably.
Monson (July-September)
The caves and surroundings are decorated with lush green forest with mini waterfalls, but you need to be careful of the slippery tracks and stairways.
Summer -
It is best to visit the caves early in the morning to avoid the scorching Mumbai heat.
Additional Information
Shuttle bus runs between the park entrance and Kanheri caves, departs every half hour, expect on Mondays and lunch hours.
Seperate tickets required to visit caves, provided at the entrance gate of the caves.
Start early to beat the harsh Mumbai sun and prefer weekdays to escape the crowd
Wear comfortable footwear and carry sunblock, hat, sunglasses, quick dry clothes etc.
You will need to pay refundable deposits for carrying plastic bottles and bags, it is checked by the officials at the entrance
Take reusable water bottles to stay hydrated and snacks (food options are limited in the park)
Trekking enthusiasts can also opt for the trail upward from the caves. It takes you to Jambulmal, the highest point in Mumbai.
There are ample other activities in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, carry some extra cash, if you are planning to try your hands on these.
Other things to do in Sanjay Gandhi National Park…
Apart from the ancient Buddhist caves there are numerous other activities to indulge in ➖
🔸Boating - Boating is one of the major attractions in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. You can rent a boat or go paddling in the scenic beauty.
🔸Cycling - You can take your own or rent the bike at an minimal cost and explore the biodiversity of the park.
🔸Trekking - The park offers amazing treks and nature trails, it is home for diverse spiecies of plants and animals - leopards, monkey, deer, variety of fishes, reptiles etc. The treks are easy and can be done by anyone.
🔸Camping - Camping facilities are provided in the park for those who wish to stay amdist scenic beauty. There are multiple options - Safari tent, pine huts and guest houses, to choose for comfortable night sleep in the park
🔸Van Rani - A mini-toy train passes through the major tourist attraction of the park.
🔸Safari Ride - The park provides wildlife safari. you can take mini jungle safari (25 minutes) in the caged van, where you can spot different wildlife - deer. monkey, wild cats etc.
🔸Freshwater Lakes - There are two fresh water lakes in the park - Tulsi Lake and Vihar lake. These lakes are famous for its reptile population including crocodiles and various species of snakes.
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