Elephanta Caves

Listen to the legends that history narrates in Elephanta.

Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 A.D and attracts more number of tourists each year than the entire city of Mumbai. The island of Elephanta is said to be the abode of Lord Shiva and the pride owner of some of the finest rock-cut sculptures in India. Elephanta is regarded as an epitome of Hindu cave culture and consists of seven caves of which the most notable is the great cave, a masterpiece of Chalukyan-Gupta art, that the island of Elephanta is most famous for. One can see the spectacular 22-ft Panchamukha Shiva ( Lord Of the Five Faces ). Each face represents one aspect of the divinity of Shiva. Some of them are - Maheshamurti, Bhairdeva, Vamdeva etc. However there are other representations of Lord Shiva too like - Dancing as Nataraja ; slaying demons; playing chausa with Parvati; the lord as Ardhanarisvara.

There are three entrances to the temple. The eastern and the western entrances mark the axis of the temple. There is a 20 pillared hall that lines the axis, and on its western end is a cell in which a Shivalingam enshrined.

The De Facto
Location - Mumbai
Erected In - 6th century A.D
Area - 60,000 sq. feet
Elevation - 280 ft.
Best Time To Visit - October - April
Timings - 9.30 am to 6 pm, Mondays closed.
Entrance Charges - Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.
Access
Located on a small island of Mumbai in Maharashtra, Elephanta can be reached by regular ferries that leave from Mumbai's Gateway of India harbour throughout the year, except during the monsoon season.

Did You Know?

• A great number of visitors come to Elephanta Island in February to enjoy the Elephanta dance festival. The festival has become a major tourist attraction.
• The carvings of these caves are a beautiful amalgamation of the graceful forms of South Indian Hindu sculpture with the exactness and poise of Buddhist Gupta Arts.
• The island of Elephanta was originally known as Gharapuri.