The Kanheri Caves in Mumbai date back to the 1^st century BC. Built from natural basalt rock, there are around 110 caves. Some of them are complete, some half done and a few left mid-way through construction for varied reasons. The work done in these caves ranges from simple to intricate and helps determine the time when they were constructed based on the architecture. These contain Buddhist sculptures, carvings, paintings, and inscriptions.

A visit to Kanheri had been on my list for a super long time. Somehow I never could make it there. So when I saw a heritage walk to Kanheri caves by Sahapedia under the expertise of Ms Ashwini Nawathe I registered for it immediately. She is amazing when it comes to arranging heritage walks.

My personal opinion is if you are a first-time visitor make sure you travel with someone who is an expert in history and archaeology and only if that is not possible read up all about the caves and then visit the place.

Now let me tell you about my journey.

On a rainy Sunday morning when most would choose to sleep in, I chose to head over to the Kanheri caves. I was informed you get a direct bus to Kanheri from Borivali east which we later found out is only available from Sanjay Gandhi National Park main gate. So we walked up to the entrance which is 15 mins from Borivali station took the entry ticket which is around 50 Rs for adults. Walking up to Kanheri and then exploring the place is not something that I would advise.

How to travel to Kanheri?

There are 3 ways you can reach the base of Kanheri-

1. Take the bus 188ltd. 10 Rs. Ticket and you reach the base but it takes super long.
2. You get private cabs which charge 50 Rs.
3. You can take your vehicle but the ride up to Kanheri is a steep slope. Take your vehicle only if you are confident.

Since we were late, we chose to take the cab to the Kanheri base and then walked up to the top. The walk from the Kanheri base to the top is beautiful (the steep slope will make you breathless if your fitness level is not up to the mark). The entry to the Kanheri caves is 15 Rs for Indian residents and a few neighbouring countries.

About the caves:

The moment you step into the Kanheri caves area you are in for a treat for the eyes and soul. The vibes of the place are so pure and positive.

Being slightly late we met the rest of the troop in the first cave. Moving from cave to cave understanding the history, architecture, and bits of archaeology. Hours passed by without checking the time or phone.

Must-visit Caves in Kanheri are caves no-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 34 ( paintings on the ceiling ), 40, 41,45,  67, 45, 90. The caves are not numbered in a series. Searching the caves itself was fun.

Water system:

Also, one thing that I absolutely loved about the place was the well-designed water system for drinking and other uses. Don’t miss out on noticing the water systems that almost every cave has. They are so well-planned, intact, and useful even today. You definitely will be surprised at the kind of fabulous work.

There comes a point in the walk where you are almost at the peak. Take a moment to notice the peace and tranquillity. The breathtaking view would make you realize why people must have chosen this place. To me, it’s a heaven on earth.

During those times they also had a dam there. Today, there exist just a few stones. Nonetheless, they are worth a visit.

Food at the caves:

Now coming to the food you will get corn cob, raw mangoes, peanuts, chana chat, steamed corn, and hot tea. Everything is served on leaves and is perfect for the climate.

Overall, it took us over 4 hours to finish major sites. We started from Borivali station at 8 am by the time we were done and reached the SGNP it was 5 pm.

Summary:

Lastly, I would like to drop in a small message- places like Kanheri hold our history and heritage. They need to be taken care of, preserved, and cherished. A large chunk of people visit the caves just to enjoy the water, and waterfall making the waters muddy and dirty with the use of soaps, plastics, etc. The caves are used for changing clothes or carving out their names. If each person takes charge and behaves responsibly the world would be a better place.