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.
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.