Airports in Mumbai :- Click Now
Travel Accommodation / Book Now :-
- Hotels in Mumbai
- Guest houses in Mumbai
- Bed and breakfasts in Mumbai
- Resorts in Mumbai
- Apartments in Mumbai
- Lodges in Mumbai
- Inns in Mumbai
- Homestays in Mumbai
- Villas in Mumbai
- Campsites in Mumbai
- Hotels in South Mumbai
- Hotels in Central Mumbai
- Hotels in Navi Mumbai
- Apartments in Navi Mumbai
- Guest houses in Navi Mumbai
- Villas in Navi Mumbai
- Inns in Navi Mumbai
- Lodges in Navi Mumbai
- Plan your Trip with Agoda :-
Your tour will begin by Kanheri Caves passing through the green forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Located 3.5 miles (6 km) inside the park,Explore Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE..The cave complex comprises one hundred and nine caves, carved from the basalt rock.Most of the caves are used as the Buddhist viharas, meant for living, studying, and meditating. Don't miss the Buddhist shrine, called a stupa, in one of the caves before returning to Mumbai.
Great mix of Greenery and History
it is located in SGNP in Borivali. Easily accessible through Buses and Rickshaws. The site is on a hillside, and is accessible via rock-cut steps. The cave complex comprises one hundred and nine caves. They have different formats where some are plane square rooms with gates and then there are some with elaborate sculptures. Govt has tried to get the caves to be in best shape as much as it can. If you climb high enough , you'll get birds eye view of the city. The oldest are relatively plain and unadorned, in contrast to later caves on the site, and the highly embellished Elephanta Caves of Mumbai. Each cave has a stone plinth that functioned as a bed. A congregation hall with huge stone pillars contains a stupa. Rock-cut channels above the caves fed rainwater into cisterns, which provided the complex with water. Once the caves were converted to permanent monasteries, their walls were carved with intricate reliefs of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas. Kanheri caves were built in the 1st century and had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the 3rd century CE.
Most glorious experience
Get a first-hand peek at the 109 carvings, some dating from the 1st century BC, which puts the world-famous heritage site at your fingertips.Caves including some that are inaccessible have the most aweinspiring carvings, frescoes & ancient paintings & engravings that one can ever imagine. The access to these caves is from brilliantly maintained stairways that are as ancient as the caves themselves. The acoustics of some of the caves are phenomenal with perfect echoing that lends a mystic aura to the site. Impossible to believe that such a serene verdant slice of land is a part of the cacophonic city of Mumbai.
Architecture of Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves architecture isn’t particularly elaborate. It’s rather plain. But different caves have characteristics varied from each other. Cave 1 is an unfinished chaitya-griha. It has two storeys. Cave 2 is in the form of a large assembly hall. It consists of three stupas, and the walls are carved with sculptures of Buddha. Cave 3 is the largest among the Kanheri Caves, and the most remarkable. A well-sculpted screen separates the courtyard from the front. This chaitya-griha also has tall pillars and a stupa in one end, apart from a large Buddha statue at the entrance. These three caves and others in the vicinity have been a part of a Buddhist monastery.
The area has 109 caves and Kanheri Cave no 3 is the most elaborate among them. Long hall, carved columns and a tall statue of Buddha at the entrance marks this cave. The 16-feet high stupa towards the end of the cave is also one of the salient features of this cave. Cave 4 is among the oldest of all the caves and the next two – Cave 5 and Cave 6, are water cisterns.
Other caves of significance are the ones numbered 11, 34, 41, 67 and 90. Cave 11 used to be the Darbar Hall or Assembly Hall. A statue of Buddha is there in the centre. Cave 34 is notable for the paintings of Buddha on the ceilings, which remain unfinished though.
The Cave 41 then, is the home to 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 is the darkest cave there and is known to have the oldest preserved mandala (from 6th century CE).
Most of the caves also had channels carved out to trap and store rainwater. The caves have numerous inscriptions in Brahmi and Devanagari, and some epigraphs in Pahlavi.
How to Reach Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves are situated in the outskirts of Mumbai, within Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Therefore, the caves of Kanheri are accessible through a network of BEST buses and local trains.
By Air – Mumbai, the city of dreams, is connected to many travel destinations around the world. After all, it’s considered the gateway to India. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is about 22 km away from the caves, and domestic as well as international tourists can find a flight to reach here.
By Rail – Mumbai is connected to all the corners of India through a network of the railway. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT) and Mumbai Central (MMCT) are the main railway stations in the city, and both are at a distance of around 40 km. Some trains also stop at the suburban railway stations nearby. Borivali is the nearest local station to reach Kanheri Caves.
By Road – Mumbai is the entertainment capital of India and thus, is reachable through all the major cities of India. A network of public and private bus services connects Mumbai to all the nearby cities. You can also take a cab or go to Kanheri Caves by car from anywhere in Mumbai. Alternatively, you can opt for a private cab from top car rental companies in Mumbai for your Mumbai tour.
Entry Fee and Timings of Kanheri Caves
The cave complex lies within the boundaries of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It is open for tourists every day except on Mondays. Kanheri Caves entry timings are between 7.30 AM and 5 PM. The entry fee for Kanheri Caves is Rs. 15 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreign tourists.
Best Time to Visit Kanheri Caves
Kanheri Caves are open all throughout the year, but you can explore it well only when the climate is cool. Therefore, the winter months, from November to February, are the best to explore this tourist spot. The weather is cool and the hiking trail is dry enough to provide you with a comfortable trekking experience around the caves. You can also drop by a visit between July and September when monsoon rains keep the temperature of Mumbai low. The greenery around the area is at its best and the mini-waterfalls nearby run full with water. But the rocks get slippery too. Therefore, visiting Kanheri Caves in the rainy season might not be the best choice.
Time to Explore Kanheri Caves
It will take you about 2-3 hours to check these bunch of Buddhist caves. But do have 2-3 hours more in hand if you want to hike to the Caves from the entrance of the national park. It will take you about an hour to reach Kanheri caves on foot, and another one hour to return. Trekking enthusiasts can also opt for the trail upward from the caves. It takes you to Jambulmal, the highest point in Mumbai.
Excellent historical site of Budhist Statues
The word ‘Kanheri’ has been derived from Krishnagiri, a Sanskrit word that means “Black Mountain”. This ancient monastery has been carved out of black basalt rock and has been a learning centre and pilgrimage site for Buddhists. At the Kanheri Caves, you can see many Buddhist sculptures and paintings. It was a famed learning centre during its prime and also served as the residence for Buddhist monks. Traders and passers-by also used the place as a stop-over. Much of the inscriptions are still undeciphered, but people believe that the first excavations started sometime around the 1st or 2nd century BCE. The large halls with stupas suggest that the caves were significant as Buddhist shrines and that the place played an important role in the propagation of Buddhism in India.
Kanheri caves an Incredibly beautiful
Trekking in and around the caves is the only activity available at Kanheri Caves. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional trekker, you’ll find it rewarding. The view there, with greenery all around, is mesmerising. Numerous small waterfalls add to its charm. And you might also catch an occasional glimpse of animals, which reside in the periphery of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Activity Available at Kanheri Caves
Kanheri caves in Sanjay Gandhi National park is a hidden gem; within the city limits of Mumbai. Extraordinary vegetation and clean environment. There are many activities (Lion/Tiger Safaris, Forest trails, Toy train etc etc.) that one could do here. However a day may not be enough if you want to do all. So prioritize. One could take a car or rent a bike inside the entrance gate. There have been some recent rate hikes, but they all seem reasonable, looking at the improved upkeep and cleanliness of the place and also a lot of new infrastructure being put in.
1. Kanheri caves reside in midst of this vast forest. You need a separate ticket for this at nominal cost. The caves are much more cleaner now and securely locked up during off hours. There are new railings put in and a new complex coming up with public utilities and cafeteria etc.
2. It is wise to be there early to beat the sun and heat. Carry water a snacks along. Wear comfortable sports shoes and clothes.
3. It would be always a good idea to read up a bit about the caves and make a few notes before; like we did. This will make things easier to spot and one would not roam about aimlessly. Afterall there are 109 caves scattered over a wide area. The caves otherwise look the same, so its best to know the background and nuances a bit.
4. The caves are largely ‘Viharas” (Buddhist Monastery) and are stone cut, more than 2200 years old. The rocks are black basaltic.
5. Caves 1, 2, 3 (Chaitya hall with a large stupa, similar to Karla caves but smaller), 4 are notably the most talked about and interesting. So are 5 and 6 (Water cistern), 11 (Darbar hall), 34 (has an unfinished paining of Buddha on the ceiling), 41, 67, 81, 90. Cave 41 has a unique sculpture of Buddha with several small heads over the main head.
6. You will find inscriptions at various places in 3 different ancient scripts: Brahmi, Devanagari and Pahlavi.
7. Once you are done with the caves, don’t forget to climb on the topmost part of the caves to take a panoramic view of the forest and farther into the city, almost upto Powai. Beautiful sight.
8. On the way back, there is a small canteen for cold drinks and snacks. Further down you have fruit shops too. Beware of the monkeys who are all to eager to partake your food.
Highly recommended trek anytime of the year but mostly winter months or early morning in summers. Monsoons are also great if you are careful and avoid slippery tracks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment