Elephanta Caves Mumbai: Uncovering The Mysteries

The Elephanta Caves are a part of the busy City of Mumbai and a masterpiece in disguise. These caves are one of the major attractions in the whole city of Mumbai. Over the years, it has evolved into a tourist destination. The vintage historical significance of these Elephanta caves Mumbai draws tourists’ attention towards it.

There are two groups of alcoves at the site of the Elephanta Caves Mumbai, the primary one is a large group of five Hindu caves and the second is a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves include stone sculptures representing the Shaiva Hindu sect. 

The caves are an expression of art and several essential imageries are sculpted here, which include ‘Trimurti’ or three-headed Shiva, ‘Gangadhar’ that is a manifestation of the river Ganga as she descends to the earth and ‘Ardhnarishwar’, which is a representation of Shiva and Parvati within the same body. 

Let’s dive into the journey of Elephanta Caves Mumbai, at the beginning of the Jetty at the Gateway of India. As the boat pulls out from the beach, and ships arrive into a better view, the journey will take you on a route that is parallel to the route which you’ve entered, along the Eastern Freeway.

The skyline in Mumbai remains unique, but the ones of Sewri and Wadala actually replace the high rises of South Mumbai. Ships spatter the sea, amidst oil rigs and in between the distance are huge oil companies of BPCL and HPCL. 

As you approach the island, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre seems closer than ever, and the 2 massive nuclear reactors are absolutely visible. On the other side of the island is the JNPT(Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), a busy hub of pursuit.

The Elephanta caves Mumbai, and Gharapuri, come from the nearby names of the caves in addition to the fort atop the hill. However, it is believed that this is the metropolis of Agraharaipuri or the Konkan Mauryas. This is believed to be Puri or Sripuri, articulated inside the Aihole inscription as the fortune of the western sea.

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Elephanta Caves History

Historians date the Elephanta Cave temple lower returned to past due 5th – 8th century AD but excavations of Kshatrapa coins dated to the 4th century AD have additionally been unearthed right there. Records are available from the defeat of the Mauryan rulers of Konkan via the Badami Chalukyas emperor Pulakesi II. 

At that point, Elephanta was referred to as Puri or Purika and turned into the capital of the Konkan Mauryas. As a result of this, a few historians believe that the caves were built using them during their reign. 

Other historians have given credit for the caves to the Kalachuris who are believed to have some relationship with the Konkan Mauryas. These assumptions are primarily based on the truth that the Elephanta Caves history is devoted to Pashupata Shaivismsect, a sect to which Kalachuris, as well as Konkan Mauryas, belonged. 

Other than those, the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas are also believed to have been at the back of the creation of those impressive caves. Obeying the rules of the Chalukyas, Elephanta Caves history fell into the fingers of the Gujarat Sultanate, who surrendered it to the Portuguese in 1534. 

The Portuguese renamed the island as “Elephanta Island” because of the massive stone statue of an elephant that was located close to the island. Elephanta Caves saw a principal breakdown underneath the Portuguese till 1661 when the caves came under the territory of the British. 

The major cave was restored in the 1970s however the other caves are nonetheless in a very despicable condition. The Elephanta Caves were featured in UNESCO’s listing of World Heritage Sites in 1987 and have become an extra famous tourist vacation spot after that.

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