Elephanta Caves India

View Of Elephanta Caves India	View Of Gateway Of India Mumbai

In Elephanta caves, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions in form of beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and temples dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Elephanta anciently known as Gharapuri, the island capital of Konkan Mauryas, is celebrated for its colossal image of lord Shiva, with three heads each representing a different form. Located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai, these caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE. 9 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India lay Elephanta, also known as ‘Gharapuri’. Visit this green island for the wonders of the 7 th century, the painstakingly hewn rock-cut cave temple, dedicated to Shiva. The Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer, is a sight that should be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime.
This rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock.

On entering the caves you can see heavy pillars carved from the rock. Slowly, once's your eyes become accustomed to the dim light; then you can make out marvelous representations from Indian mythology carved on the walls. Here towers an image of the deity: a three-headed form, depicted from the chest up, growing out of the rock, three times the size of a human being. It portrays Siva as the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer of the world, and at the same time as the savior and bestower of blessings. It has stood there like this for perhaps a thousand years.

Also on the southern wall are grand sculptured images of Kalyanasundara, Gangadhara, Ardhanariswara and Uma Maheswara. To the west of the northern entrance are sculptured images of Nataraja and Andhakaasuravadamoorthy, and to its east are images of Yogiswara and Ravanaanugrahamurthy.

Timeing Of Caves :- From 09 hours to 17:30 Hrs or Sunset whichever is earlier The Caves will be closed on Monday.
Entry Fees :- 1) For Indians above 15 years : Rs. 10/- per head
2) For Others above 15 years : US$ 5 or corresponding to Rs.250/- per head

How To Reach Elephanta Caves :-
The Elephanta Caves can be reached by Ferry from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
By Air:-Nearest airport is Mumbai 20 kms. upto Gateway of India, and 9 nautical miles across the sea.
By Rail :-Nearest railhead are Churchgate (W.R.) & Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST, C.R.)
By Road :- From All over india mumbai connected.