Elephanta Caves.Group of rock-cut cave temples on Elephanta Island, about 10 km by boat from the Gateway of India. The main cave has massive pillars and the famous three-headed Maheshmurti of Shiva, plus panels showing Shiva in different forms. The island is a wooded hill with steps climbing up from the jetty to the caves, offering views of Mumbai harbour.
About this place
History & highlights
Archaeology shows occupation from about the 2nd century BCE; the main cave temples were carved roughly in the 5th–6th centuries CE, dedicated primarily to Shiva. The Portuguese later named it “Elephanta” after a stone elephant they found. The caves declined for centuries until documented under British rule. In 1987 they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and regular ferries turned them into a classic Mumbai excursion.
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