The Kanheri Caves are a large group of Buddhist rock-cut caves cut into a basalt hill inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali. They are not at the park gate, so the journey has two stages: first to the park entrance at Borivali East, then from the entrance to the caves. This guide covers the cave visit: charges, timings, transport from the gate, walking conditions and what to see. For the park-wide visit and the road distances from Navi Mumbai, see the Sanjay Gandhi National Park guide.
Transport arrangements and tickets change, and online guides disagree on them, so this guide does not give a ticket price. Check before you leave Navi Mumbai, and confirm again at the park gate. This guide is independent and is not run by the Archaeological Survey of India or the park.
Quick visitor summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where are they? | Inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali. Map points, approximate: Borivali East gate area and Kanheri Caves Road near the cave area. |
| What are they? | A Buddhist rock-cut monastic site of 109 caves cut into basalt, with one prayer hall and the rest monastic dwellings, according to Wikipedia. |
| Tickets | The cave ticket is separate from the park charges. See the table below. |
| Best planning day | Tuesday to Sunday. Official pages differ on Monday. |
| Transport | Changed in 2026. Confirm the park-operated service at the main gate. |
Tickets and separate charges
Expect separate charges, each administered separately. Do not assume that the park’s rules for children apply to the caves.
| Charge | What to establish before you go |
|---|---|
| SGNP admission | A separate park charge. See the Sanjay Gandhi National Park guide and the park’s official website. |
| Internal transport | Which service runs, the fare, and whether it covers one direction or a return journey. |
| Kanheri admission | The current monument tariff and your visitor category. The Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in) is the starting point for official ticket links. |
| Child concession | The age rule for the caves, from the monument’s own tariff. It may differ from the park’s. |
| Other charges | Only those the park or the monument currently lists. |
Online guides quote a wide spread of cave fees, which may reflect old tariffs, payment channels or visitor categories, so none is given here. Avoid paying for a tour package believing it is the monument ticket.
Timings and access
The national tourism site publishes cave hours of 7:30 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday closed. The park’s own homepage describes Monday activity closures with exceptions that include the Kanheri Caves, so the two official sources conflict. Plan a Tuesday to Sunday visit, and confirm access with the park before you travel, especially for a Monday or a late afternoon visit. Confirming at the cave counter comes too late for a trip from Navi Mumbai.
| What to find out | Status |
|---|---|
| Published cave visiting hours | 7:30 am to 5 pm on the national tourism site. Other guides give different hours. |
| Monday access | Official pages conflict. Confirm with the park. |
| Last cave admission | Ask before you travel, since it varies. |
| Last return transport | Ask at the gate before you go up. |
| Park exit deadline | Ask at the gate. |
Getting to the caves
Stage 1: Navi Mumbai to the Borivali East entrance
By road it is roughly 33 to 49 km from Airoli, Vashi, CBD Belapur and Kharghar railway stations by the routes in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park guide. By train, one route is a Harbour line train towards Andheri or Goregaon, a change to the Western line for Borivali, then an auto or taxi from the east side of the station to the gate. See the Mumbai local train guide.
Stage 2: from the gate to the caves
Transport inside the park has changed. A Free Press Journal report says the BEST service A-188 between Borivali station and Kanheri Caves was discontinued in January 2026 after a Bombay High Court direction, and a Mumbai Live report says park-run electric buses replaced it, with a fare increase. Reports from February 2026 give an adult fare of ₹100 for the bus, quoting park management, while other listings give a lower amount, so today’s tariff is not settled.
Confirm the park-operated bus or buggy service, the current fare and the return arrangements at the main gate before you set off for Kanheri. Ask where it boards, whether the fare covers one way or a return, the operating hours, the last return, and whether e-bus and e-buggy fares differ. Free Press Journal and Mumbai Live have the reports.
Use the transport that park authorities currently permit. Walk the approach road only if staff confirm that pedestrians are allowed that day. Private vehicles should not be assumed to be allowed beyond the gate. These are access rules and not matters of fitness or convenience.
Distance: guides describe the gate to the caves as 5 to 7 km. A map estimate between the two approximate points linked above is about 3.4 km, so the real distance depends on where the transport drops you. Do not plan around a single figure.
What to see
The 109 caves were excavated in basalt, and the name is linked to the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, meaning black mountain, according to Wikipedia. Sources date the caves from the first centuries BCE or CE to about the 10th century CE, and they disagree on the exact range. The complex has one chaitya (prayer hall), and the rest are viharas (monastic dwellings). Start with the principal caves, and use the site’s interpretation panels to understand the architecture, sculptures and water management.
| Highlight | What to notice |
|---|---|
| The Chaitya Cave (Cave 3) | The large prayer hall, with a row of pillars along its sides and a stupa at the far end. Notice how the hall is cut out of the rock as a single space. |
| Viharas | Monks’ cells cut into the hill, with stone benches, showing where people lived and met. |
| Cisterns and channels | Water tanks and channels cut into the rock to collect rain, which allowed people to live on the hill through the dry season. |
| Sculptures and inscriptions | Carved Buddha figures and inscriptions that record gifts to the monastery, which helps historians date the site. |
Individual cave numbers and details are taken from general sources, so use the signboards at each cave as your guide.
Walking, accessibility and facilities
- Transport to the cave area does not remove the walking and the steps. Expect uneven rock paths between caves.
- A shorter visit can focus on a few caves close to the drop-off point, depending on conditions.
- Visitors with limited mobility should confirm the route from the drop-off point before they go. Physical ability matters more than age.
- The heat on the bare hill can be strong, and the rock is slippery when wet, so wear shoes with a grip and carry water and a cap.
- Toilets, drinking water, food, seating and guides vary, so ask at the gate. Check the rules before you eat inside the monument.
Allow roughly two to three hours at the caves as a planning allowance and not an official duration.
A suggested visit plan
- Confirm the entry and return transport at the park gate.
- Reach the cave ticket area.
- Visit the principal caves first, including the Chaitya Cave.
- Add more caves according to mobility, weather and time.
- Return before the confirmed transport cut-off.
For the park as a whole, see the Sanjay Gandhi National Park guide. For other cave visits, see the Elephanta Caves guide and the Kondana Caves guide, and for more ideas, the weekend getaways guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Kanheri Caves?
Inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, away from the Borivali East gate. The journey has two stages: to the gate, and from the gate to the caves.
How do I get from the park gate to Kanheri Caves?
Transport inside the park has changed. Confirm the park-operated bus or buggy service, the fare and the return arrangements at the main gate before you set off.
Can I walk to Kanheri Caves?
Only if park staff confirm that pedestrians are allowed on the approach road that day. Use the transport that is currently permitted.
What is the Kanheri Caves entry fee?
It is a separate monument ticket from the park charges, and online guides disagree on the amount. Use the Archaeological Survey of India website as the starting point for official ticket information.
What are the Kanheri Caves timings?
The national tourism site lists 7:30 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday. The park’s homepage describes exceptions for Kanheri in its Monday closure wording, so confirm access before you travel.
Are Kanheri Caves included in the park ticket?
No. The park admission and the cave ticket are separate charges.
How long does a Kanheri Caves visit take?
Roughly two to three hours at the caves is a planning allowance, plus the journey from the gate.
Sources and a note on accuracy
Reviewed on 22 October 2026: Wikipedia’s Kanheri Caves entry for the caves; the Free Press Journal and Mumbai Live reports on the 2026 transport change; the park’s website and the national tourism site for Monday access and hours. Reviewing a source does not mean the park or the monument reconfirmed its figures, and no tariff is given here.
Featured photo: Kanheri Caves – Cave 2 by Sameermal, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized. It shows Cave 2.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with the Archaeological Survey of India or Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
