*🛡️Kanheri Caves* ♟️The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments located on the western outskirts of Mumbai. ♟️The caves are located within the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. ♟️The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs in the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana ruler Vasisthiputra Pulumavi. ♟️Kanheri was mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers. ♟️The earliest reference of Kanheri is ascribed to Fa-Hein who visited India during 399-411 CE and later by several other travellers. *♟️Architecture* These excavations were primarily undertaken during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism but also has several examples of the Mahayana stylistic architecture as well as few printings of the Vajrayana order. *♟️Patronage* Kanheri flourished under the patronage of Satavahana, Traikutakas, Vakatakas and Silaharas and through donations made by the wealthy merchants of the region. *♟️Significance* Kanheri caves are part of our ancient heritage as they provide evidence of evolution and our past. ♟️The architectural and engineering marvel of heritage sites like Kanheri caves or the Ajanta Ellora caves signify the knowledge about art, engineering, management construction, patience and perseverance that people had back then. ♟️Many such monuments back then took more than 100 years to be built. ♟️Its importance is heightened by the fact that it is the only centre where a continuous progression of Buddhist faith and architecture is observed as an unbroken legacy right from 2nd century CE to 9th century CE is observed here.