The Kanheri Caves (Kānherī-guhā [kaːnʱeɾiː ɡuɦaː]) are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on the island of Salsette in the western outskirts of Mumbai, India. They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century CE[1] to the 10th century CE. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, which means "black mountain".[2]
The site is on a hillside, and is accessible via rock-cut steps. The cave complex comprises one hundred and nine caves. 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 (a Buddhist Pagoda). Rock-cut channels above the caves fed rainwater into cisterns, which provided the complex with water.[3] 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.[4]
Map (1881)
Most of the caves were Buddhist viharas, meant for living, studying, and meditating. The larger caves, which functioned as chaityas, or halls for congregational worship, are lined with intricately carved Buddhist sculptures, reliefs, pillars and rock-cut stupas. Avalokiteshwara is the most distinctive figure. The large number of viharas demonstrates there was a well organized establishment of Buddhist monks. This establishment was also connected with many trade centers, such as the ports of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan and Ujjain. Kanheri was a University center by the time the area was under the rule of the Maurayan and Kushan empires.[2] In the late 10th century, the Buddhist teacher Atisha (980–1054) came to the Krishnagiri Vihara to study Buddhist meditation under Rahulagupta.[5]
^Ray, Himanshu Prabha (June 1994). "Kanheri: The archaeology of an early Buddhist pilgrimage centre in western India" (PDF). World Archaeology. 26 (1): 35–46. doi:10.1080/00438243.1994.9980259.
^ ab"Kanheri Caves". Retrieved 28 January 2007.
^"Mumbai attractions". Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2007.
^"Kanheri Caves Mumbai". Retrieved 31 January 2007.
^Ray, Niharranjan (1993). Bangalir Itihas: Adiparba in Bengali, Calcutta: Dey's Publishing, ISBN 81-7079-270-3, p. 595.
The KanheriCaves (Kānherī-guhā [kaːnʱeɾiː ɡuɦaː]) are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the...
cave temples include the Bhaja Caves, the Karla Caves, the Bedse Caves, the KanheriCaves, and some of the Ajanta Caves. Relics found in these caves suggest...
Kilometers away from Lonavala. Other caves in the area are Bhaja Caves, Patan Buddhist Cave, Bedse Caves and Nasik Caves. The shrines were developed over...
attractions include Sanjay Gandhi national park, fish park, Kanhericaves, Mandapeshwar caves, Water kingdom, etc. Borivali railway station is an originating...
Maharashtra. The first reference to the Aurangabad Caves is in the great chaitya of KanheriCaves. The Aurangabad Caves were dug out of comparatively soft basalt...
the name "Mandapeshwar". The Mandapeshwar caves are smaller and lesser known as compared to the Kanhericaves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali...
statue in the rear. This cave, and Cave 11 of the KanheriCaves, are the only two Buddhist caves in India arranged in such a way. Caves 1 through 9 are all...
many sites of tourist interest. Elephanta Caves Jogeshwari CavesKanheriCaves Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Bassein Fort Belapur Fort Bombay Castle...
region. Other caves include the Billasurgam caves, Sanyasula caves, Yaganti caves, Yerrajari caves, and the Muchchatla Chintamanu caves (caves are called...
The Barabar Hill Caves (Hindi बराबर, Barābar) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with...
artwork, inscriptions, and sculpture of the KanheriCaves in the mid third century BCE and Mahakali Caves. After the decline of the Maurya Empire around...
Jogeshwari Caves, Mahakali Caves, Essel World, Water Kingdom, Marve Beach, Aksa Beach, Madh Island, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Colony, KanheriCaves, Film...
called as the garden suburb as it had one of the National Park with KanheriCaves. Now in last 10-15 years it has been a suburb with a bouquets of garden...
Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC located off the Mumbai - Pune expressway near the city of Pune, India. The...
shared in rotation among the five panthak families.) Inscriptions at the KanheriCaves near Mumbai suggest that at least until the early 11th century, Middle...
include more than 14 forts and 5 naturally-formed caves. A few examples include: Elephanta CavesKanheriCaves Mahim Fort Belapur Fort Bombay Castle Castella...
rock-cut architecture Ellora CavesKanheriCaves Kappe Arabhatta Karla Caves List of colossal sculptures in situ List of India cave temples Mahakuta group of...
caves. The other six caves are (i) Karna Chaupar, (ii) Sudama Cave, (iii) Vishmitra Cave, (iv) Gopi Cave, (v) Vapiyaka Cave, and (vi) Vadathika Cave....
depictions, but evidence of ancient Indian architecture. Kanhericaves Buddha statue Kanhericaves statue The Amaravati school of Buddhist art was one of...
and seminaries. Prominent among the converts were two yogis from the KanheriCaves who became known as Paulo Raposo and Francisco de Santa Maria. They...
Global Information
