The Kanheri Caves are an extensive complex of ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves located inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, offering a rare blend of history, spirituality, and forest views right within Mumbai.
The Kanheri Caves are a group of 109 ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Carved out of black basalt rock between the 1st century BCE and the 10th century CE, these caves served as viharas (monasteries) and chaityas (prayer halls) for Buddhist monks.
The name "Kanheri" is derived from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, meaning "black mountain," referring to the dark volcanic rock.
The caves feature intricate sculptures of the Buddha and bodhisattvas, inscriptions in Brahmi and Devanagari scripts, water cisterns for rainwater harvesting, and pillared halls. Cave No. 3, the Great Chaitya, is one of the largest and most significant, dating back to around the 2nd century CE. The site reflects over a millennium of Buddhist monastic and educational activity, linked to trade centers like Kalyan, Sopara, and Ujjain.
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