Elephanta

Elephanta is the name given to Elephanta Island, a rocky outcrop in Mumbai Harbour near Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The island is best known for the Elephanta Caves, a group of ancient rock-cut cave temples dating from roughly the 5th to 8th centuries and devoted primarily to the Hindu god Shiva. The local name for the island is Gharapuri, which is often translated as “the fortress city.” The Portuguese renamed the place Elephanta after a large stone elephant statue that once stood near the harbor.

The caves represent an important example of Indian rock-cut architecture and sculpture from the early medieval period. The best-known monument is Cave 1, commonly called the Great Cave, which contains a large ceremonial hall and a prominent sculptural panel of the Trimurti—the three-faced form associated with the Hindu concept of creation, preservation, and destruction as aspects of Shiva. Other caves feature reliefs and depictions of deities, forms of Shiva, and narrative scenes, illustrating the evolution of Shaiva iconography in that era.

The Elephanta Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for their artistic and architectural significance. The site is protected and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and other authorities. Access is by ferry from the Gateway of India in Mumbai to Elephanta Island, where visitors can explore the caves and the surrounding tropical landscape. The site remains a popular tourist destination and a focus of ongoing conservation efforts.