The Kanheri Caves (Kānherī-guhā [kaːnʱeɾiː ɡuɦaː]) are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments, cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on the island of Salsette in the western outskirts of Mumbai, India. They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century CE to the 10th century CE. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, which means "black mountain".
The site is on a hillside, and is accessible via rock-cut steps. The cave complex comprises one hundred and nine caves. The oldest are relatively plain and unadorned, in contrast to later caves on the site or the highly embellished Elephanta Caves of Mumbai. Each cave has a stone plinth that functioned as a bed. A congregation hall with huge stone pillars contains a stupa (a Buddhist pagoda). Rock-cut channels above the caves fed rainwater into cisterns, which provided the complex with water. Once the caves were converted to permanent monasteries, their walls were carved with intricate reliefs of the Buddha and bodhisattvas. The Kanheri caves were built in the 1st century and had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the 3rd century CE.
thumb|400px|Map (1881)
Most of the caves were Buddhist viharas, meant for living, studying, and meditating. The larger caves, which functioned as chaityas, or halls for congregational worship, are lined with intricately carved Buddhist sculptures, reliefs, pillars and rock-cut stupas. Avalokiteshwara is the most distinctive figure. The large number of viharas indicates there was a well organized establishment of Buddhist monks. This establishment was also connected with many trade centers, such as the ports of Sopara, Kalyan, Nasik, Paithan and Ujjain. Kanheri was a university center by the time the area was under the rule of the Maurayan and Kushan empires.
Inscriptions at Kanheri
thumb|left|A Brāhmī stone inscription at Kanheri, veranda of the Great Chaitya.
Nearly 51 legible inscriptions and 26 epigraphs are found at Kanheri, which include inscriptions in Brahmi, Devanagari and 3 Pahlavi epigraphs found in Cave 90. One of the significant inscriptions mentions the marriage of Satavahana ruler Vashishtiputra Satakarni with the daughter of Rudradaman I:
There are also two inscriptions of Yajna Sri Satakarni (170-199 CE), in cave No. 81, and in the Chaitya cave No. 3.
A 494-495 CE inscription found at Kanheri mentions the Traikutaka dynasty.
Description of the caves
thumb|The caves as viewed from the base of the hill.
thumb|Rock cut stair leading to Kanheri.
The Island of Salsette, or Shatshashthi, at the head of Mumbai harbour, is uniquely rich in rock-cut temples, with works of this kind found at Kanheri, Marol, Magathane, Mahakali Caves, Mandapeshwar Caves, and Jogeshwari Caves. Kanheri lies a few miles from Thane, and contains the most extensive series in this grouping, with about 109 separate caves.
With easy access from Mumbai and Vasai, the caves attracted attention early in the colonial eras. They were described by Portuguese visitors in the 16th century and by European voyagers and travellers like Linschoten, Fryer, Gemelli Careri, Anquetil Du Perron and others. at Nasik Caves is contemporary, or nearly so, with the Great Chaityas both at Kanheri and Karla. The Nahapana Cave at Karla (cave No.10) is a bit earlier than No. 17 at Nasik. The "Gautamiputra" Cave No. 3 (also at Nasik) succeeded these other caves after a considerable lapse of time; therefore, any caveworks sponsored by Yajna Sri Satakarni must have been executed within a short interval of time after the others. On the other hand, whatever its date may be, it is certain that the plan of the Kanheri Great Chaitya cave is a literal copy of that at the Karla Caves; the architectural details show the same differences in style as is found between Cave 17 and Cave 3 at Nasik.|source=
Darbar Cave (Cave No. 11)
thumb|350px|Darbar cave exterior.
thumb|Darbar cave plan.
thumb|The dining hall.
To the north-east of the Great Chaitya cave, in a gully formed by a torrent, is a cave bearing the name of the Maharaja or Darbar Cave, which is the largest of the class in the group, and, after the Chaitya Caves, certainly the most interesting. It is not a vihara in the ordinary sense of the term, though it has some cells, but a Dharmasala or place of assembly. It is the only cave known to exist that enables us to realise the arrangements of the great hall erected by Ajatashatru in front of the Sattapanni Cave at Rajagriha, to accommodate the first convocation held immediately after the death of the Buddha. According to the Mahavamsa, "Having in all respects perfected this hall, he had invaluable carpets spread there, corresponding to the number of priests (500), in order that being seated on the north side the south might be faced; the inestimable pre-eminent throne of the high priest was placed there. In the centre of the hall, facing the east, the exalted preaching pulpit, fit for the deity himself, was erected." those on the left from imprisonment (?) Garuda, Shitala or disease, sword, and some enemy not now recognizable from the abrasion of the stone.