Kanheri Caves

In News

• Recently, the Union Minister for Tourism inaugurated a group of tourist amenities at Kanheri Caves.

About Kanheri Caves

• Meaning:
  • Kanhagiri in ancient inscriptions literally means Black Mountain.
• Location:
  • The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
  • This establishment was also connected with many trade centres, such as the ports of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan and Ujjain.
• Buddhist sculptures:
  • They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century to the 10th century CE.
  • Most of the caves were Buddhist viharas, meant for living, studying, and meditating.
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park:
  • It is a protected area in Mumbai.
  • The park is also home to a small population of leopards.
  • The karvi shrub as it is locally called only blooms once in eight years in a mass flowering covering the forest floor in lavender blush.

Source: TH