The Elephanta Caves - Mumbai. Jouney into the past.

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We made a quick trip during the summer of 2010 ( May) to Shirdi and Mumbai. Having just four days on hand we went to Shirdi and then to Mumbai, It was a very short visit.

One tour worth mentioning at Mumbai was the visit to the Great Elephanta Caves. A superb ferry ride for a little over one and quarter hour. We did take a lot of snaps on the way. Soft drinks, biscuits were sold on the dock and it was quite sultry.

The Elephanta Caves are a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large Mumbai metropolis. The Elephanta island is located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century.

This rock cut temples were created by carving out the rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is similar to a huge sculpture, with walk through corridors and chambers . The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly polished while some are untreated bare rock.

The entire cave temple complex covers an area of over 50,000 sq feet and it consists a main chamber and two lateral ones , courtyards and several shrines. Above the temple is the mass of natural rock.

This island was originally called Gharapuri, and the Portuguese renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone elephant near their landing place.

I was really amazed at the artistic skill of the workers who have sculpted these so intricately and imagine without any mechanized tools and power supply. This also reminded me of the shore temple at Mahabalipuram near Chennai my home town, which are called "the rock temples". These are still intact and attract lots of tourist’s from around the world. If you are visiting chennai dont miss this spot.

I happened to make a friend - a tourist from USA during the launch ride and was really surprised at his remarkable knowledge about Indian history. Also a Doctor family from Chennai were travelling with us and thus the ferry ride hence was not boring.

The outside of the main cave consists of a columned veranda 30 feet wide and 6 feet deep, which you approach on steps flanked by sculptured elephants. The entire temple, carved out of the rocky hillside, is 130 square feet. The principal sculptures are on the southern wall at the back.

One has to avoid carrying food or snacks because the herds of street-smart monkeys will harass you. Motor launches, one hour each way, depart daily every half hour from 9 to 2:30 from the Gateway of India and from noon to 5 from Elephanta Island, unless the sea is very rough . It's not advisable to visit Elephanta during monsoon season.

The central recess in the hall comprises the most outstanding sculptures, We were feeling the heat as it was month of May and could not stay for long here but the 3-4 hours spent was really memorable. May be if I carry a SLR camera the shots would have been sharper !

Well on Mumbai as such a busy city like any other metropolis in India bursting at seams with the crowd, roads jam packed all through the day up to mid night. It looks as though every one is running and chasing something !. If you just watch for a few minutes i am sure you will agree to this. With many food joints and cinema halls spread over the city it is indeed a happening place. The highlight is bollywood where the maximum number of films are made in India and is a ever growing industry involving millions.

There are some snaps of Mumbai also at the Kamal Nehru park and the Juhu beach. need to add more snaps to this ,shall do soon.

Ramz.

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