When to go
- Time of day
- Open 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Historical PlaceCave temples
Elephanta Caves
UNESCO-listed rock-cut Shiva temples on an island reached by ferry from the Gateway of India
Photo: Christian Haugen · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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01 — The story
The story
The Elephanta Caves are rock-cut temples to Shiva on Elephanta Island in Mumbai harbour, administratively in Raigad district, and usually reached by boat from the Gateway of India. They are generally dated between the 5th and 7th centuries and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Carved panels inside show Shiva in several forms, among them Nataraja, Ardhanarishvara, Sadashiva and the great Trimurti. Who made the caves is still debated: attributions range from legends of the Pandavas or Banasura to dynasties such as the Konkan Mauryas, Kalachuris, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. From the hill the island also gives views back toward the Mumbai skyline.
Unmapia
02 — About
About Elephanta Caves
Coming soon
We’re still writing about Elephanta Caves: its history, what’s there and why it’s worth the trip.
03 — Plan your visit
Plan your visit
On the ground
- Access
- Nearest airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Mumbai.; Nearest railway station: Mumbai Central Railway Station (MMCT).
Where it is
Raigad, Maharashtra
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01 — More in Maharashtra
