We all decided to assemble at Vikhroli Station at around 8:00 am. Most were on time, and some were late as usual. We decided to use the time to have our breakfast.
Bonny and me having our breakfast.
We then moved on to the bus stop. We thought of traveling by bus, but ended up taking ricks.
After we reached borivili, I decided to have a go at the wada paav stand. I knew we had a long journey ahead, and I was already hungry. Only Griffin and Gladvin joined me. The others decided to keep away.
The map outside Borivili national Park. We had planned to hike upto Kanheri Caves.
The beautiful sprawling national park awaits us...
Walking into the park, unaware of the long road ahead.
Moss covered walls seen from the trainothers were. Probably because I knew about the sorry state of the animals and had already visited the Nehru Zoological park in Hyderabad, and knew that this would never live upto those standards. Finally, considering the limited time, we settled for a train ride, and just got to see the deers.
Walking to
Leaving behind a tunnel
Off the ride, the girls dont seem to have enjoyed themselves much.
After the train ride, we hit back the long and beautiful road.
After walking for sometime, we reached a bridge over a small stream. The group didnt need an invitation to get into the water.
Bonny decided to catch some fish. The only fish available were small fry.
A little water bug that he caught.
Taking a dip in the cool stream.
After the dip, many were reluctant to leave the spot. Infact only myself and Joshua were the ones out of the water, waiting for everybody to get back on the trail. Then there was a little mutiny where some of the guys decided against going to the caves and wanted to just explore the jungles. It took some time to break the mutiny and convince everybody that the caves were worth visiting. And we could hit the road again...
Weary after the long walk.
The gang, now tired & famished, decides to squat on the road.
After some time of continuous walking, we finally made it to the foot of the hill, which had the caves. At the base of the caves, there was a map and a write up on the caves.
Exploring the first of the caves.
The biggest and the most beautiful of the viharas.
Massive moss covered rocks.
A Stupa inside the cave that had multiple viharas.
Posers forever. :)
Bonny checks out the sculptures behind the Stupa.
An inside out view... The Viharas were pretty dark, even in the bright afternoons.
Some wall sculptures
A carving of Buddha
A destroyed stupa next to an intact one. Not even sure if its a destroyed stupa. Raiders? Dacoits? Cant say.
The caves have an excellent water harvesting systems. There are tanks built all over the caves, and there are water channels along the hills that supply water to these tanks. Also the excess water in the past was drained out to the nearby Tulsi and Vihar lakes.
Next , exactly after the huge cave with viharas built in it, we came across a Chaitya which was the hugest. It had huge 20 feet statues of buddha and also a big stupa in the middle of the hall. Above is the entrance to this Chaitya.
A huge pillar that looked more decorative than supportive. This was outside a huge chaitya, probably the main prayer hall in the monastrey.
A 20 feet statue of Buddha. The most impressive in Kanheri Caves. The body was out of proportion, as can be expected sometimes in the carvings of those ages. This error in proportion was observed only in the big statue. But obviously, the bigger the work, more difficult to maintain proportions. Also, in many places, the smaller ones were replicas of this larger one. Opposite the one you see in the above picture stands an exactly carbon copy statue. To pass into the hall, you would have to pass throught these 2 bug statues that face each other.
Some more than voluptious carvings that lined the entrance.
The large Chaitya. Just being in here was a magnificient feeling. I can imagine what a peaceful atmosphere this might have been when the monks walked this placce around a couple of thousand years ago.
Some carvings on top of a pillar. Two elephants, with maybe mahouts, or maybe .. i dunno what. You figure.
The inside out view.
Me with a minature version of the 20 feet statue you saw a couple of pics up...
The main area of the caves from the other side, ie from outside the main Chaitya (prayer hall)
As we climbed higher, we got a fantabulous view of the National Park. The sun shone through the clouds, and illuminated streaks of the forest that I couldnt capture on this cellphone camera. You actually have to be in the place to experience it. This picture actually cheats the viewer of depth of feild. The forest is much farther than what it seems to be in the pic.
Between two hillocks on which the caves are built flows a little stream. There are multiple caves built in this valley too. What you see is a stream of people playing and venturing about in this little stream. The late monsoons may be the reason why it is just a trickle.
The team tired, after walking for more than 8 kms, soaking the view.
Rock cut steps led us further up the hill where there were many more Viharas.
High up in the Sky
Joshua and John look down on the passers by.
The Entrance to a Vihara (quarters where the monks reside). There were many such viharas carved into the rocky mountainside. There are 100 caves in all out here...
This looked like a rock cut Ezy chair. Maybe something that the monks used to relax in. Winson, Serena and John chill on probably one of the best places ezy chairs, as you can see the whole valley from here.
Enoch walks up rock cut steps to get higher up the hill.
