Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves are located on the Elephanta Island in the Mumbai harbour. The caves, hewn from solid rock and containing beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Œiva, are thought to date back to the Silhara kings of the 9th through 13th centuries (810–1260).

Cut into the Living Rock .

Reviews

Christer Sundberg (Sweden): If you have overloaded your senses and need to get out of Mumbai for a day, a slow cruise to the Elephanta Island and the Elephanta Caves is exactly what you need. Some 9 km north of the Gate of India, in the Sea of Oman, the Elephanta Island and its caves are the premier tourist attraction of Mumbai. The 50-minute cruise takes you from one world to another. Suddenly the air is fresh and the sound of the bustling city is far away. Little is known about the origin of the Elephanta Caves but they are thought to have been created between 450 and 750 AD when the island was known as Gharapuri (Place of Caves). The Portuguese renamed the island Elephanta because of a large stone elephant near the shore. The statue collapsed in 1814 and the British then moved it to the mainland. The Elephanta Caves consist of one main cave and several smaller. In the main there is a number of large sculpted panels, all relating to Shiva. Some of the rock surfaces are finely finished whereas some are unfinished bare rock. In the main cave there is an enormous central bust of Shiva with its eyes closed in eternal contemplation. Elephanta is certainly worth a visit but foremost its a nice escape from Mumbai for half a day. Compared to the Ajanta and Ellora caves, that I later visited they tend to fall down slightly in rank.

(): Elephanta caves is a beautiful island situated near Mumbai. The sculptures present in these caves talk a lot about Indian heritage, religion etc. Being an indian myself, am taken by surprise by the grandeur of art that Indian sculptors produced. The good time to return back from elephanta to Mumbai is during the evening so that you can enjoy the sunset and the silhoutte of Mumbai brightened by the setting sun.

Theodore Cantrell (USA): I was fortunate to experience Elephanta in 1959. I was a sonarman on a US Navy destroyer.Age 19. It was an experience that that was most memorable. Something I wish all could enjoy.

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• Elephanta Caves
• Year: 1987
• Country: India
• Category: Archaeological site, South (East) Asian
• Reasons for inscription
  
  
  News and links:
  » Although the tourism department is trying to develop Elephanta island in a way appropriate for a world heritage site, rehabilitation of the shopkeepers is proving to be a major roadblock. Conservationists and tourism officials agree that Elephanta will not regain its historical pristine look without the removal of these shops. There are about 25 shops, all unauthorised, along the stairway leading from the jetty to the caves. (25-02-2007).
  
  
  
  

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