Elephanta caves

Elephanta caves | Mumbai | India 

The Most Exotic Place in Mumbai | India 

The Over View 

 The caves are positioned at the Elephanta or Gharapuri island that's situated at a distance of 11 km from the town of Mumbai. Natively called Gharapurichi Leni, the Elephanta Caves that exist today are ruins of what had been once elaborately painted artistic endeavors. It also affords an notable view of the Mumbai skyline. You can attain the Elephanta Caves through a ferry trip from Gateway of India. This collection of cave temples dates back to fifth to seventh centuries and maximum of them are devoted to Lord Shiva.

There are two groups of alcoves within the website online of the Elephanta Caves, the primary is a massive group of 5 Hindu caves and the second is a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves include the stone sculptures representing the Shaiva Hindu sect. The caves are an expression of art and a number of critical imageries are sculpted right here, which encompass 'Trimurti' or three-headed Shiva, 'Gangadhar' which is a manifestation of the river Ganga as she descends to the earth and 'Ardhnareshwar', that's a illustration of Shiva and Parvati inside the identical frame. In addition to being an critical background website, the Elephanta Caves are also an not likely hiking destination.

Elephanta Caves | Ferry | Mumbai 

Since the Elephanta Caves are located on an island, one has to take a ferry to the islands which make up for a joy trip in its personal proper. The first boat leaves from the Gateway of India ferry factor at 9:00 AM at the same time as the closing one leaves at 2:00 PM sharp. The ferry can cost everywhere between INR one hundred thirty to a hundred and fifty in line with the form of journey you select. The ferry skimming through the waters of the Arabian Sea is especially exciting for youngsters, and you could additionally grasp a few snacks at the move.

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Elephanta Caves | Architecture  | Mumbai 

The complete complicated of the Elephanta Caves is constructed on a place of 60,000 square feet and it has seven caves. The foremost cave changed into the Hindu place of worship beneath the Portuguese rule. It has a pillared mandapa, open porticoes and an aisle. The partitions are carved out of stone and a number of deities make an appearance right here. The principal cave has a statue of Ravana lifting Kailash mountain, Shiva-Parvati on Kailash, Ardhanarishvara which is a manifestation of Shiva and Parvati in the equal body, Trimurti which is the three styles of Lord Shiva, Gangadhara that's a cascade of the Ganges from the heavens to the earth, an outline of Shiva's wedding, Shiva slaying Andhaka, Nataraja or a depiction of Shiva acting the Taandav, Yogishvara and the Shiva Linga. The east wing shrine of the Elephanta Caves has carvings on Kartikeya, Matrikas, Ganesha and Dvarapala upon its floor, at the same time as the west wing has Yogishvara and Nataraja decorating the caves.

Elephanta Caves | History | Mumbai | India 

The history of the Elephanta Caves has no strong proofs and is based totally on some of inferences drawn from speculations and postulations. It is thought that the Elephanta Caves had been constructed through Pandavas, but, a few additionally credit score the identical to Banasura, the demon devotee of Shiva. Local subculture dictates that the caves were now not constructed with the aid of the hands of men in any respect.

Historians date the Elephanta Caves lower back to overdue 5th - 8th century AD but excavations of Kshatrapa cash dated to 4th century AD have additionally been unearthed right here. Records are available from the defeat of the Mauryan rulers of Konkan by using the Badami Chalukyas emperor Pulakesi II. At that point, Elephanta became called Puri or Purika and turned into the capital of the Konkan Mauryas. As a end result of this, a few historians agree with that the caves were built by using them at some point of their reign.

Other historians have attributed the caves to the Kalachuris who're believed to have a few dating with the Konkan Mauryas. These assumptions are primarily based at the reality that the Elephanta caves are dedicated to Pashupata Shaivismsect, a sect to which Kalachuris in addition to Konkan Mauryas belonged. Other than those, the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas also are believed to were at the back of the introduction of those astounding caves.

Following the guideline of the Chalukyas, Elephanta Caves fell into the fingers of the Gujarat Sultanate, who surrendered it to the Portuguese in 1534. The Portuguese renamed the island as "Elephanta Island" due to the big stone statue of an elephant that was located near the island. Elephanta Caves saw predominant deterioration underneath the Portuguese until 1661, whilst the caves got here underneath the territory of the British.

The important cave changed into restored in the 1970s but the other caves are nonetheless in a very deplorable situation. The Elephanta Caves were given featured in UNESCO's listing of World Heritage Site in 1987 and became a fair greater famous traveller vacation spot after that.

Best Time to visit 

Winter months from November to February are the pleasant time to go to the caves. Avoid top monsoon season (June to August ) as the sea will become unpredictable and ferry schedules get disrupted. Morning hours are higher to go to this destination.

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