VASAI FORT - SANJAY GANDHI NATIONAL PARK - KANHERI CAVES

At a distance of 73 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Vasai Fort, also known as the Bassein Fort, is an ancient fort located at Vasai in the suburbs of North Mumbai. The fort, overlooks the confluence of the Ulhas River, is one of the top places to visit in Mumbai.

Vasai was known as a place for ship building in the 15th Century. Bahadur Shah, a Mughal Emperor had built the Bassein Fort in the 1530s. The fort covers an area of around 110 acre. The Portuguese conquered and destroyed most of the fort a year after it was built. The Portuguese remodeled the fort into a flourishing city by building a citadel inside. The fort was under the Portuguese control till 1739 AD. In the 18th century, the fort was raided and overtaken by the Maratha army under Chimaji Appa. They stood strong for 3 long years, and then the British took over the fort in the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Once a strategic place on the Western coast of India, this fort has now mostly turned into ruins. Despite .....

At a distance of 35 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), earlier known as Borivali National Park, is a large protected area near Borivali in the northern part of Mumbai. It is one of the major national parks existing within a metropolis limit and one of the most famous picnic spots in Mumbai.

The park was named Krishnagiri National Park in the pre-independence era. At that time the area of the park was only 20.26 sq. km. In 1969, the park was expanded to 104 Sq. km by acquiring various reserve forest properties adjoining the park and was renamed as Borivali National Park in 1974. In 1981, it was re-dedicated as 'Sanjay Gandhi National Park' in memory of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of ex-Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who was killed in an air-crash in 1980.

The park is known for its dense forests, vast bird life, butterflies, and the small population of tigers. The Kanheri Caves in the centre of the park were an important Buddhist .....

At a distance of 42 km from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Kanheri caves are located inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park to the north of Borivali in the outskirts of North Mumbai in Maharashtra. These Cave are considered as one of the top tourist places in Mumbai.

The name of these caves has originated from the Sanskrit word Krishnagiri, meaning black in colour.
The Kanheri Caves constitute a group of rock-cut monuments chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock. The caves demonstrate the Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India. These caves were formed between 1st century BC and 10th century AD, with the earliest rocks comprising 109 tiny rock-cut cells. Most caves were named as Buddhist Viharas in ancient times and were meant for living, study and meditation. The site also served as a university during the rule of Kushanas and Mauryas.

Kanheri caves are divided into three different caves, each of which has a stone plinth for a bed. The caves have chaityagrihas .....