Kanheri Things to Do Tips by radz

Lakeview-Top of Kanheri Hill

his is top of the Kanheri hills.
when u finish almost all caves ,you reach here top of the hill.The way to top is slieppery.have to becareful.
From here you can see Tulsi lake.And few caves are littel far,they used as ground cementry. Path is very riskey,so dint go there.

From here can see Mumbai&mid sea,Sanjai Gandhi national park (Natural forest) too.

Prominent sculptures at cave90.

This is cave no90,the main wall showing Buddha resting on Lotus flower.
Can say all beautiful sculptures are wonderful,no need of commends :)).
So just have a look of travalogue pics.
Its not all caves are big.few caves were used as simple resting room,with out
any eleborate designs.
One can see quick look along the way.

Eleven headed Padmapani Avalokiteshwara

This is pic at cave 41.Seems its important cave, in the pic ,left side can you see 11 headed Padmapani its called Padmapani Avalokiteshwara.this is distnctive and rare 11 headed Avalokiteshwara.I never read anywhere.:)
Padmapani is body guard of Buddha.Caves near Buddha you can see Padmapani figures too.

Chaitya hall interior.

This pic can see interior of Chaitya Hall.Hall was big,center can see big stuba,
and it was supported by big pillers.The ROOF
had wooden railings,but now no wooden remaining are there.It was used for prayers,
if you talk that will echo.No light inside,only natrual sunlight can see fuly.
Even the pillers top too carving ,elephent figures.

Chaitya cave(No3)

I think this is the largest cave&most eleborated cave at Kanheri.
They say Chita cave,it means i was used as prayer hall.From parapet wall to front court yard,
and all side of this cave can see beautiful carving desigens&figures.
Seems they dont want any space to left out.:).I liked this one ,I was told,this cave was made in AD177-196 by King Yajnashri Satakarni Gotami Putra from North India.
By that time,Kanheri was well establised center for learning about Buddhism.
Inside is big Chaitya HALL . From front couryard both side can see tallest Buddas,images,one is smiling,other Buddha face sad .

Stupa,closeup (at cave no2)

This pic cave 2,and close pic of Stuba &can see backside buddist litany.
Padmapani he is bodyguard of Budda,and inscription mention says devotees name.

Two Stupas's at Cave no2.

This is second cave,with 2 big stupa's,around stupas's can see Buddast litany.Elephenta caves is full of Hindu God Shiva,here Hanheri is full of Budda,Buddist monks work.
Turn everywhere inside caves,you all Budda poseing at every mediation pose.
Here too can see inscription,guide said ,old time Kanheri must be unversity for studying about Budda,and acts as trading center too.

Kanheri cave1

This is first cave.There are 109 caves,used as living place,prayer hall,penace rooms,and Kitchen.Seems all living place ,they made carving at black rock hill at Kanheri.
It took more than 150 year to complete to finish all caves.

The pic you see is cave no1,yah all caves have number.Its unfinihsed Vihara,seems defect in rock,so they dint complete full.
inside can see rooms for penace,stone bed ,all carved in rock only.

This cave sides can see inscriptions still readable,even can see chinesh inscription :)
If you know the languages you read too.
The thing is its still readable&looks like yesterday only they written.

Address: Kanheri Caves,Near Mumbai

Directions: From Nationl Park its 4km.