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India Travel Ideas

 

Elephanta Island

Elephanta Island, about 10 km off the eastern coast of Bombay, boasts a series of caves carved out of the rock between the fifth and eight century A.D.

A visit to Elephanta Island, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, is a worthy destination in itself, and it also provides a view of the city's skyline from the water and a welcome escape from the chaos of Mumbai's streets.

The island is easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai, being about 10 km from the south east coast of the island city. Elephanta caves have imposing examples of early rock- out architecture. Not of the high tenor as the Ajanta or Ellora caves, the Elephanta cave is a worth visit. This temple was excavated sometime in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta kings who ruled the area between AD 757-973.

The most important sculpture is that of Trimurti Sadasiva, carved in relief at the end of the N-S axis. The image, 20 ft (6.1 m) in height is of the three headed-Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva. The rock-cut temple complex cover an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) consisting of a main chamber, 2 lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines.