SandeepRathod
Kanheri Caves, Mumbai
The Kanheri Caves are located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. The Kanheri Caves consist of a number of rock-cut Buddhist caves. These caves were built in the 1st century BC when Mumbai was the territory of the Maurayan and Kushan empires. The caves are deep inside the National Park in Mumbai. The caves are approximately 450 meters above seal level and from here one can get a beautiful view of the surroundings.
There are about 109 caves. These caves were used as rest houses for travelers. They were used between the 1st century and 9th century AD. There are inscriptions in these caves that refer to the areas around as Krishnagiri, Krishnasila, Kanhasila or Kanhagiri; which translates to mean "Black Mountain" or "Black Rock". The word "Kanheri" seems to be derived from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri that means "Black Mountain". It is believed that these caves were originally meant to be rest houses for travelers between the ancient port towns of Sopara and Kalya. As time passed the isolated surrounding of the caves made it an ideal place for meditation. Archaeologists believe that around the 1st century AD Buddhist monks began using these caves as their residence. As these caves were in the middle of the forest and were in between the old towns of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik and Ujjain and there was enough water available it become popular with Buddhist monks.
To begin with these caves were frugal. They has just the basic amenities like a stone beds and cisterns to store water. But once these caves became the permanent residence of the Monks, residents' halls began to be carved out of the rock. Intricately carved statues of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas were sculptured into the walls. By about the 3rd century AD Kanheri had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast. As this settlement became important funds began to flow from the nearby towns.
Today these caves are an interesting tourist attraction within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Park regularly organizes a number to nature trails and treks to these caves.
Kanheri Caves, Mumbai
The Kanheri Caves are located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. The Kanheri Caves consist of a number of rock-cut Buddhist caves. These caves were built in the 1st century BC when Mumbai was the territory of the Maurayan and Kushan empires. The caves are deep inside the National Park in Mumbai. The caves are approximately 450 meters above seal level and from here one can get a beautiful view of the surroundings.
There are about 109 caves. These caves were used as rest houses for travelers. They were used between the 1st century and 9th century AD. There are inscriptions in these caves that refer to the areas around as Krishnagiri, Krishnasila, Kanhasila or Kanhagiri; which translates to mean "Black Mountain" or "Black Rock". The word "Kanheri" seems to be derived from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri that means "Black Mountain". It is believed that these caves were originally meant to be rest houses for travelers between the ancient port towns of Sopara and Kalya. As time passed the isolated surrounding of the caves made it an ideal place for meditation. Archaeologists believe that around the 1st century AD Buddhist monks began using these caves as their residence. As these caves were in the middle of the forest and were in between the old towns of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik and Ujjain and there was enough water available it become popular with Buddhist monks.
To begin with these caves were frugal. They has just the basic amenities like a stone beds and cisterns to store water. But once these caves became the permanent residence of the Monks, residents' halls began to be carved out of the rock. Intricately carved statues of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas were sculptured into the walls. By about the 3rd century AD Kanheri had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast. As this settlement became important funds began to flow from the nearby towns.
Today these caves are an interesting tourist attraction within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Park regularly organizes a number to nature trails and treks to these caves.