Mahesh murti

The central recess holds the most famous and remarkable sculpture of this period known as the Mahesh-murti. It is a colossal bust of the three forms of Siva, the aghora, turbulent and fearsome; tatpurusha, benign and meditative and vamadeva, mild pleasing and lovable.

Carvings

Carvings inside the Elephanta caves

Carvings on Pillars

Seems like the image of Buddha carved on one of the pillars.

Image of Lord ganesh - the elephant headed God carved on one of the pillars in the Elephanta caves.

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.

Carvings

More carvings at the entrance to the Elephanta Caves. All these date back to the 6th-7th century A.D.

At the entrance

This is the 1st carving that greets one at the entrance to the Elephanta caves.

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.

Atop!

Yes! We have reached the top and now we can see the jetty below from where we had started the toytrain ride. Behind us are the famed Elephanta Caves!

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!

Palanquin

If, for whatever reason, you feel you are unable to climb, there are these makeshift palanquins in which you can sit and be carried all the way up for a small price.

Steps to the Cave

This is the beginning of the gentle climb up to the Elephanta Caves. Because of the shops on either side and their awnings there is shade all along.
The cave temple, which is the pride of Elephanta, sprawled over an area of approximately 5000 square metres, is reached by climbing a flight of more than 100 steps, to the top of a hill. Inside the temple, is a large pillared hall with rows of columns, that appear to hold up the roof of the cave.

Toy train

The toy train takes passengers from the jetty to the footsteps of the Elephanta Caves. This journey takes a couple of minutes and costs only Rs.10/- for a return ticket per head.

Crossover

After having reached the pier, to alight from the boat and set foot on land to go to the Elephanta Caves, we had to crossover through another boat..
Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD. These rockcut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock.

The pier

A crowded pier at Elephanta. Elephanta Island was known in ancient times as "Gharapuri" or The Place of Caves. The Portuguese took possession of the island and named it Elephanta after the great statue of an elephant which they found on the seashore. At present, the statue of the elephant is housed at Jijamata Garden in Mumbai.

Elephanta Ahoy!

Elephanta Ahoy! Yes, now we can see the Elephanta island and should be there in another 15minutes...

Boats

Some more boats off the Mumbai harbour. Elephanta island is nearing now. My next post should be a view of the island from a distance.

Tanker

This seems to be an oil tanker. The name is 'Motilal Nehru' and based in Mumbai.

Freighter

Heres a freighter carrying huge containers of cargo across the Arabian sea off the Mumbai harbour.

Cruiser?

Spotted this cool looking cruiser(?). Sure is a busy waterway!

Barracuda 1

Barracuda 1 was the name of this beauty. I dont know much about boats and ships but loved the look of the beauty anchored in the Arabian sea off Mumbai.

Speed boat

One of the many speedboats that raced past as we motored along gently to the Elephanta caves. Will post all sights that I liked and clicked on the way. :) Hope you enjoy them all the same!

The boat

This is the typical boat that is used to ferry people across people between the Gateway of India and the Elephanta caves. The Elephanta island is located about 13 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century.

Queue

Holiday makers and tourists on their way to visit Elephanta caves queue up for their ferry ride. There is a ferry which operates to the Elephanta caves every 30minutes and the ride one way is about an hour. The Elephanta caves is a World heritage site. Will take all of you on this tour shortly.

Bird feed

Outside the Gateway of India, this guy sits selling bird feed to passers by who wish to feed the pigeons. Some people do it because their religion demands it and some for the novelty of it and then there are those who do it for the love of birds! The end result is happiness for the birds, feeders and of course the seller!

Hotel Taj

The Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai opposite the Gateway of India is a landmark and a tourist attraction. Built in 1903, the hotel is an architectural marvel and brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai, showcasing contemporary Indian influences along with beautiful vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, graceful archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers, a magnificent art collection, an eclectic collection of furniture, and a dramatic cantilever stairway.

Water

The waters of the Arabian Sea with the Gateway of India and the Taj Hotel in the background - prime representatives of Mumbai - the city in a liquid flux all the time! Have posted this picture as part of the April theme day - Water. The other participants are listed below. Do check them out.

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Chhatrapati Shivaji

This statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji stand opposite the Gateway of India. This is what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (1st Prime Minister of free India) had to say about Chhatrapati Shivaji:

" Shivaji did not belong to Maharashtra alone; he belonged to the whole Indian nation. Shivaji was not an ambitious ruler anxious to establish a kingdom for himself but a patriot inspired by a vision and political ideas derived from the teachings of the ancient philosophers. He studied the merits and faults of the systems of administration in kingdoms existing at the time and determined his own policies and administration in the light of that knowledge. A devout Hindu, he was tolerant of other religions and established a number of endowments for maintainig sacred places belonging to them. As a general he was undoubtedly one of the greatest in Indian history; he saw the need for and raised a navy to guard his coastline and to fight against the British and the Dutch. Pratapgad Fort build in 1656 stands today as a monument to his military genius. Shri Shivaji is a symbol of many virtues, more especially of love of country."

For further details click on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji

Gateway of India

Built in the Indo-saracenic style, the Gateway of India is meant to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, prior to the Darbar in Delhi in December 1911. The foundation stone was laid on March 31, 1911 and George Wittet's final design sanctioned in August 1914. Between 1915 and 1919 work proceeded on reclamations at Apollo Pier for the land on which the gateway and the new sea wall would be built. The foundations were completed in 1920.

The Gateway is built from yellow Kharodi basalt and reinforced concrete. The central dome is 48 feet in diameter and 83 feet above ground at its highest point. The whole harbour front was realigned in order to come in line with a planned esplanade which would sweep down to the centre of the town. The cost of the construction was Rs. 21 lakhs, borne mainly by the Government of India. For lack of funds, the approach road was never built, and the Gateway now stands at an angle to the road leading up to it.

The construction was completed in 1924, and the Gateway opened on December 4, 1924 by the Viceroy, Earl of Reading.

Ironically, the last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, passed through the gate in a ceremony on February 28, 1948.

Above info sourced from http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/gateway.html

It is under renovation now hence the jute cloth covering part of the monument.

Siddhivinayak temple

The Siddhivinayak temple is one of the most visited shrines in Mumbai. It houses the revered elephant headed Hindu god 'Ganesh'. It was built in 1801 and since then has fulfilled the wishes of millions of devotees that throng the temple.
For more details about the temple click on http://www.siddhivinayak.org/templehistory.

St.Michael's church

The St.Michael's Church in Mahim, Mumbai is very famous and people of all faiths come to pray there. It is believed that one can get almost any wish fulfilled here. It is most crowded on Wednesdays for the 'Novenas' that are held throughout the day in all the different languages of India like Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English and others.

One way Flyover

This is the flyover outside the Atria Mall at Worli in Mumbai. It is one way, open to South Bound traffic in the mornings and North bound traffic in the evenings. We have quite a few of these one way flyovers in Mumbai due to the peculiar shape of Mumbai which is like a sausage. The business district is in the South and the northern territories are like the dormitory.

Rolls Royce

A Rolls Royce Silver Wraith on display at the Atria Mall in Worli, Mumbai

Atria Mall

The glitter of the Atria Mall - an outside view.

Food court

The famous eateries invite the visitor to the food court in the Atria Mall at Worli, Mumbai

Atria Mall

The Atria Mall next to the Planetarium where you can go shopping and eating and generally be a mall rat if you have some time to spare before or after your visit to the Nehru Centre/Planetarium.

Inside the Planetarium

In the lobby of the Planetarium there are these booths where you can check how much you would weigh on the sun, the moon and other planets. It sure is fun and informative.

Nehru Centre

This is the Nehru Centre as seen from the Planetarium. It is also fondly known as the Pineapple building because of its design. It hosts a 'Discovery of India' exhibition which describes the various civilizations that ruled and shaped India. It also hosts various art exhibitions and many cultural activities.

Planetarium

The Nehru Planetarium at Worli (Central Mumbai). On holidays almost all the shows are full so it is preferable to book in advance.

Foloowing info reveived from Suhas Naik-Satam Prog. Coordinator (Scientific)
The Nehru Planetarium at Worli (Central Mumbai). It has 4 shows a day in 3 different languages (Hindi, Marathi and English).
12:00 noon - Hindi
01:30 p.m. - Marathi
03:00 p.m. - English
04:30 p.m. - Hindi

Admission Fee:
Adult - Rs. 50/-
Child - Rs. 25/- (4 to 12 years)
Student groups sponsored by their instituion with prior arrangement @ Rs. 10 per person.

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!

Outside Dadar Railway station at 0730hrs on a Saturday morning.

A street lamp being repaired in Bandra (East), Mumbai

Dadar

The unofficial vegetable market outside Dadar Railway station. This is the place where the veggies are brought from farms outside the city and offloaded to be taken to the different markets in Dadar and surrounding areas. This picture was taken at 0715hrs.

Flight at Dawn

Captured this flight at dawn at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

Strays rule!

In Mumbai strays rule! Clicked this stray relaxing in an autorickshaw at Kala Nagar, Bandra (East)

BKC

An early holiday morning at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

An Egret

These birds are a constant source of joy.