Kanheri Caves

The Kanheri caves are the first Buddhist caves with unique rock-cut construction. The history of Kanheri caves is 2000 years old and is located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park near Borivali, Mumbai, among the serene beauty of the western ghats. Kanheri’s old caverns are on the slopes of Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s enormous forest. It sits at the height of 1500 meters above sea level. These caves are used as shelter or home for Buddhists during the cold season and are one of the oldest heritage sites in India. 

Kanheri, which is also known as Krishnagiri or Kanagiri thanks to an ancient inscription in Prakrit, literally translates as “black mountain,” with “Krishna” standing for “black” and “Gari” for “mountain.” It appears in the Vasisthiputra Pulumavi’s (monarch of the Satavahana dynasty) Nasik inscription. Black basalt stone is a distinctive feature of Kanheri. Buddhist monks lived at Kanheri (129 caverns), where they practiced meditation, studied the teachings of Gautama Buddha, and preached them. The tunnels are frequently utilized as shelters during the monsoon.

What are Kanheri Caves?

Kanheri is a collection of rock-cut monuments representing Western India’s traditional art. It significantly contains art from subsequent periods of Buddhist art. A vast Vihara known as a prayer hall and stupas may be seen inside the Kanheri caves. The caverns include 109 Buddha Viharas that were explicitly built for Bhikshus. 

Buddhist sculptures and artwork are used to adorn shrines. About 30 of the Buddha paintings are unfinished. Most of these paintings were created by Buddhists who visited and meditated in the cave. These ancient drawings are distinct from the Indian cave sites’ other images in that they are older.

Facts About Kanheri Caves:

• The Sanjay Gandhi National Park contains the Kanheri Caves north of Borivali in Mumbai.
• Chaityas and Viharas are both found in Kanheri. When making them, consideration was given to the characteristics of wooden construction.
• The caves are the only place in western India where you may see artwork from all three stages of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism.
• Buddhist monks lived in the kachori caves; the place is used for studies, meditation, and preaching of Gautama Buddha’s teachings in all 109 caves near Kanheri.
• In the Kanheri Caves, there is a 22-foot-tall statue of the Buddha as well as Chaitya Griha, which has a painted ceiling and a massive figure of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara with 11 heads.
• During the monsoon period, the caves as a place of residence for the Buddhists. 
• The art in the caves incorporates symbols from subsequent Buddhist art eras.
• The Kushan and Mauryan empires, which ruled from the second to the ninth century BC, are credited for patronising the Kanheri caves. Later Gupta art had an effect on these caves as well.

Structure of Kanheri Caves:

Kanheri’s caves are the sole evidence of early rock-cut civilization in western India. These caverns are one of the few on the planet that Buddhists utilize for various reasons. At the same time, this location foreshadows shifts in Buddhist iconography in later times, such as the first and second centuries BC. Buddhist monks and inland traders frequented these caverns as rest stops until the 7th century AD. As royal support and commercial sponsorship expanded, the interiors of these tunnels were increasingly ornamented. Kanheri contains both Chaityas and Viharas. The components of the timber construction were retained in their design. These structures are too ancient to support the cave structure.

Present Developments of Kanheri Caves:

Kanheri has around 100 caves and it is supervised by the Indian Archaeological Survey (ASI). On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, in may 2022, G Kishan Reddy, the union minister for tourism, culture, and development of the North Eastern Region, officially opened a number of tourist amenities at Kanheri Caves. To emphasise the cave’s unique features, a 3D tour and interpretation centre with 11 illustrative panels will be built here which would stimulate tourist engagement. 

Older structures such as the booking office, custodian quarters, and visitors’ pavilion have been upgraded and renovated. Landscaped area has been created between the reservation desk and the caretaker quarters. Electricity and water supplies were previously unavailable but they are now provided by solar energy sources. The Indian Oil Foundation, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the ASI, has helped revitalize Kanheri’s tourism infrastructure.

Conclusion:

Kanheri Caves became a learning center. According to archaeologists and historians, these caves were where the monks lived, studied, and pondered. These caves have the distinction of having the most cave excavations from a single hill, providing insight into the evolution of Buddhism. The Kanheri caverns have also influenced the famous Elephanta caves. It is the oldest Buddha picture in South India, and Chinese monk explorer Hiuen Tsang made them renowned worldwide, spreading the history of Kanheri Caves.