Last Sunday, 03 March I visited the Kanheri Caves in Mumbai to attend the meetup by the amazing local guide @Rohan10
Besides the historic and cultural significance of the caves, this is a wonderful picnic spot with an enjoyable biking trail.
It is an enjoyable bus journey through the shady woods of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park with intermittent deer, leopard, and occasional lion spotting.
The entry ticket and bike hourly rates are also nominal.
We also bought a bus ticket from the main gate to the caves since private vehicles are not allowed.
There is ample parking space, and the caves are fully accessible for the differently abled.
The way to the caves passes through a lovely array of small businesses that sell berries and fruits found in the jungles.
Here’s the entry to the caves which are located on the hill and can be accessed by climbing about 100 steps.
After climbing the steps that also have an accessible ramp, leads to a plateau area which has a park for the kids to place and relaxing for everyone.
Here’s the view of the caves that were carved in hard basalt rock thousands of years ago.
The tour guide said that the rock was melted using sound waves created by humans upon which the artist carved out beautiful art in the rock that turned mellow. But that technique is lost now.
The entire cave area is accessible via an extensive layout of ramps.
Here is one of the largest cave recesses which is used by visitors as a respite when it gets warm in the afternoon.
Here is a photo collage of the various art varved in stone in the Kanheri Caves of India.
From the top-left going clockwise are the Stupa, Stupa housing, common men and women of that era, Gautam Buddha, and the last one is a relief carving.
Opposite the caves are two large trees of which one is green and the other has red leaves providing photo opportunities for those who are obsessed with it and shade for the rest of us.
Here’s the view of the children park from the elevation of the caves.
Accessibility
The washroom toilets are accessible.
The ticket counter is also accessible via a huge ramp.
How to Reach
The nearest bus stand for the Kanheri caves is the Sukurwadi Bus Depot.
Where to Stay
I traveled here from Pune and stayed in Hotel Honest.
Where to eat
There is a canteen inside the Kanheri Caves campus.
