Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves

Introduction to the Elephanta Caves:

The Elephanta caves forms the focal point of the Elephanta Islands that are located in ten harbor of Mumbai off the Mumbai coast at a distance of 10 kms from the Gateway of India. It is regarded as a major world heritage site due its cultural and historical importance. The existence of the Elephanta dates back to the Silhara Kingdom from the 9 th to 13 th century BC. The prehistoric cave forms a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large metropolis of Mumbai. The Elephanta caves houses numerous rock cut temples that are dedicated to the Hindu Lord Mahadeva also known as Shiva and are indeed a rich sculptural content. The Island was named Elephanta by the Portuguese after the statue of the Elephant near the landing area of the island.

A description of the Elephanta Caves:

The rock cut temples of the Elephanta caves were created by carving out huge boulders of rocks and then creating columns and internal spaces and images within them. The entire temple of the Elephanta caves is very much similar to the structure of a huge sculpture with internal corridors and chambers through which one can walk. It is a perfect example of rock removal process. The entire Elephanta cave spreads out through an area of 60000 square feets that comprises of a main chamber and two lateral ones along with courtyards and several subsidiary shrines. The temple has three main entrances and the ones on the eastern western part marks the axis of the temple. There is a hall of 20 pillars that lines the axis and on the western side is the cella that is enshrined with a Shiva lingam. The pillars depict a rich work of art and architecture consisting of fluted columns standing on square bases and are crowned with fluted cushion capitals.

Importance of the Elephanta Caves:

Apart from being a collection of the shrines the Elephanta caves highly resonates with the spiritual energy of India. It is said that many of the sculptures inside the temple is being destroyed by the Portuguese rulers who used top take potshots at the Hindu gods with their rifles. However still somehow the nothing has disturbed the sublime beauty of the place that has been in existence for centuries.

Hotels in Mumbai
Le Royal Meridien Hotel	Leela Kempinski Hotel
Sea Princess Hotel	Sahara Star Hotel
Taj Lands End Hotel	Taj President Hotel

Book Mumbai hotels now