Having seen the Elephanta caves we now return to the jetty to take our boat back to the mainland. On the way are these wonderful mangroves.

Tourists

Tourists relaxing outside the Elephanta caves with strays for company!

Bonding...

Simian bonding outside the Elephanta Caves off the Mumbai coast

Evolution

Evolution of the monkeys on the Elephanta island off the coast off Mumbai. They drink bottled water!

Shivalingam

The Shivalingam is enshrined in a cave within the main cave in Elephanta off the Mumbai coast. The Shivalingam denotes the primeval energy of the Creator. For further details on the Shivalingam click on http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/shivling.htm

Elephanta caves

Another entrance to another set of caves at the Elephanta!

Pillar closeup

A close up of the pillars 'holding up' the ceiling of the cave.

Main cave

The cave temple is the pride of Elephanta, sprawled over an area of approximately 5000 square metres. Inside the temple is a large pillared hall with rows of columns that appear to hold up the roof of the cave.

Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves! Once known as Puri - later Gharapuri - this island was the proud capital of a powerful coastal kingdom and the great cave shrine in praise of Shiva, excavated in the sixth century, added to the ruling dynasty. It seems, different dynasties held their sway over this island, namely, the Konkan-Mauryas, Trikutakas, Chalukyas of Badami, Silaharas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Yadavas of Deogiri, Muslim rulers of Ahmedabad and then by the Portuguese. The Marathas also had this island under their control and from them it passed into the control of the British. When the Portugese took possession of the island, they found a monolithic stone elephant at the place where they landed and named this a ilha do elephanta, island of the elephant.

Souvenirs

All the way to the top, you will not get bored, as you will have these shops on either side of the steps selling beautiful souvenirs. Bargain hard and you will pick up some real treasures!