Elephanta Caves, Mumbai (must see)
Elephanta Caves are a series of cave temples on Elephanta Island. The majority of these temples are dedicated to Shiva, who is one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The cave temples are thought to have been built between the 5th and 6th centuries.
There two groups of seven caves on the island. The main cave, known as Cave 1 or the Great Cave is the primary site for tourists. The 130-foot cave has a grand hall with east and west wings. A number of carvings and friezes depict the traditional views of Shiva slaying Andhaka, the wedding of Shiva and many others.
The Linga Shrine is the primary shrine in Cave 1. There are four entrances into the free-standing shrine. Each of these entrances are guarded by two dvarapalas. Inside of the shrine is the Linga, which is an abstract representation of Shiva.
Elephanta Island is located in Mumbai Harbor. It is only reachable by ferry from the Gateway of India. The ferry is about a 1.5 hour trip each way. The monument is open from 6 AM through 6 PM daily.
There two groups of seven caves on the island. The main cave, known as Cave 1 or the Great Cave is the primary site for tourists. The 130-foot cave has a grand hall with east and west wings. A number of carvings and friezes depict the traditional views of Shiva slaying Andhaka, the wedding of Shiva and many others.
The Linga Shrine is the primary shrine in Cave 1. There are four entrances into the free-standing shrine. Each of these entrances are guarded by two dvarapalas. Inside of the shrine is the Linga, which is an abstract representation of Shiva.
Elephanta Island is located in Mumbai Harbor. It is only reachable by ferry from the Gateway of India. The ferry is about a 1.5 hour trip each way. The monument is open from 6 AM through 6 PM daily.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Mumbai. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Elephanta Caves on Map
Sight Name: Elephanta Caves
Sight Location: Mumbai, India (See walking tours in Mumbai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Mumbai, India (See walking tours in Mumbai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
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