A weekend trip to Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai and Kanheri Caves

Set up in the year 1969, Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai is now spread over 104 square kilometre and is also home for 2400 years old Kanheri caves. The very fact that such a place exists in Mumbai is in itself quite phenomenal, and unfortunately many of the city's residents have never been here or make frequent visits here. To me this park can serve the same purpose as New York's central park, only that Sanjay Gandhi National park is way more natural and beautiful. 

I thinking he is planning to build a house here!

Watch a video of my recent trip to the National Park here!

 

My visit to the National Park with friends

I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai with my close friends, expecting nothing and coming back really happy and satisfied. In fact, I had absolutely no clue about the place, and when my school friend Ankush suggested a trip while we lazed at his place, both Ruchi (his wifey) and me agreed. I was keen to go out and click and the weather was pleasant enough for an excursion.

One of the smaller caves from outside

The carvings, admittedly I clicked very few of these

Ruchi inside one of the most intricately carved cave

Kanheri Caves

Kanheri Caves are a collection of about 110 Buddhist caves (seriously in Mumbai!) spread over the park and they are a must-visit for any traveler! These caves have a long history and date from 1st century BCE to 10th century AD, when this area was a key centre of learning for the Buddhist monks. The caves are rather simple in design, especially when you compare them with other Buddhist caves in Maharashtra like Ajanta-Ellora and Elephanta caves.

Most of the caves have carvings, except cave 34 which also has some unfinished paintings of Buddha.

The place is maintained well and is quite clean (though nothing can be done now with the scribbled names on the walls everywhere). They are located about 7 kilometres from the main gate and the best way to get there is by taking a park bus.

The huge Buddha!

There were very few people, I caught these two women as they ran away from my camera :)

Hike in Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Of course we were more ambitious and since Ankush was already a regular we decided to trek to a hill which looked far far off! The trek was nice, though often slippery (post monsoon moss) and the view from top is stunning. As you cross the hill and go on the other side, you can even see the Vihar and the Powai Lakes. Absolutely no one comes here, and the silence is heavenly. I smoked while the husband-wifey struggled to keep off each other :) Their chemistry was absolutely amazing and it shows in all the pictures I clicked that afternoon.

The first of the series - tum kahan kahan kahan...

Oh my god! These guys are actually kissing 70s style :)

At this moment I left them alone...not sure what happened next :)

Ruchi looking pretty, the lakes make awesome background

See these before the moral police (the husband-wifey duo) forces me to remove such lovey-dovey stuff from such a public space :)

Those are my cheap shoes...

The lakes, the city beyond...

Matheran, no?

The trek!