The Elephanta Island Caves, Mumbai, India

 We are back in Mumbai. We did the city tour the last time we were here. This time we visited the caves on Elephanta Island, which is about an hour boat ride using the harbor ferries the leave from the Gateway of India Arch. Elephanta Island was originally used by traders to stock up on supplies before heading toward the middle east. It got it's name when the Portuguese colonized India and found a large black stone sculpture of an elephant on the island. The elephant now resides in one of Mumbai's museums.


The ferries in front of the Gateway of India Arch on the right. The famous Taj Hotel which opened in 1902 is on the left. We boarded our ferry by walking right through another ferry full of people! It's kind of organized chaos.

The buddhist monks were the first to use caves for worship, starting in about 200  BC. The Hindus then adopted this custom, and the Elephanta Caves were constructed by Hindus in 500 AD.  The island was once known as Parika and was the capital of the wealthy Konkan Maurya kingdom in the 6th century AD. when the caves were constructed. The interior of the caves, columns and sculptures are  hewn from the solid rock.

The caves were used for active Hindu worship until the late 1500's. Unfortunately the Portuguese were attempting to convert the people to Catholicism, and showed no respect for the temples and  sculptures. Many were damaged extensively when the Portuguese solders who used them for target practice.

The caves are reached by walking up 150 steps hewn from solid rock. The way up is lined with stalls selling food and souvenirs of all kinds. The area at the top is  very park like. Masons were also hand cutting stones outside the entrance to the caves to increase the paved area outside.

Stone masons hand cutting paving stones.

The area outside the caves.

The caves are dedicated to Shiva, the most powerful God in the Hindu religion. The wall sculptures represent myths and stories of  Shiva and other Hindu characters, and all have symbolic motifs meant to impart various life lessons.


The entrance to the Great Cave. There are a total of 5 caves, but only the two largest that are well preserved are open to the public.

The columns were carved out of the solid rock.


The least damaged carving in the temple. He has three heads because he is representing all versions of the Hindu God. Brahma is the Creator, Vishna is the defender of the innocent, and Shiva is the destroyer of evil, and the most powerful.

Shiva in warrior mode with eight arms fighting demons. Depending on the story being depicted, Shiva will vary in the number of  arms displayed. When he is fighting to destroy evil in the world he will have up to eight arms. He is known as the destroyer God. When he is sitting peacefully with a serene expression he will have only two arms.


There were lots of monkeys in the temple area. They are quite cheeky and will steal food if they can. I saw one opening a bag of potato chips! Apparently they have no interest in taking a water bottle, but know what sweet soda looks and tastes like, and will steal that!


a colorful ferry waiting to take passengers from the island back to Mumbai. It was Sunday, so there were a lot of local tourists going to the island for the day.

Indian tourists on the path to climb up to the caves. Carry a big bag on your head - no problem!


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