Elephanta: The City of Caves

Also known as Gharapuri, the Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located in Mumbai Harbour, just seven miles from Apollo Bunder. A popular tourist attraction, these caves are accessible by ferry from the Gateway of India, another historic site in Mumbai. Gharapuri received its Western name from the Portuguese, who named the island after its enormous elephant statue, which can now be seen at Jijamata Udyaan in the city.

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The origins of the island are unknown, with the original stone masons leaving no inscriptions behind, making its date of construction a mystery. Some locals believe the Pandavas, heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, created them, while others say they were not manmade, attributing their creation to Banasura, the 1,000-armed asura and devotee to Shiva. Art historians and archeological excavations date the caves between the 6^th and 8^th centuries, with some claims going as far back as the 4^th century. Its design and construction has been attributed to various dynasties that have ruled western India over the centuries, last held by the Gujarat Sultanate before being surrendered to the Portuguese in 1534.

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Elephanta is divided into five Hindu caves representing the Shaiva sect of Hinduism and two smaller Buddhist caves located on the eastern part of the island on Stupa Hill. The main Shiva cave is an 89-square-foot mandapa, a pillared outdoor hall common in Indian architecture. Visitors walking up the 1,000 steps of the northern entrance are greeted by shrines to Yogishvara (Shiva as the Lord of Yoga) and Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance), as well as intricate reliefs like Kalyanasundara, which depicts Shiva’s marriage to Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love, fertility and devotion.

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Following Portuguese occupation, Elephanta largely fell to neglect before it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, granting $100,000 to document the site’s history, address maintenance issues and reintroduce the caves to the world. Visitors can see the island for a Rs. 150 round-trip ferry and a Rs. 250 entrance fee.