Elephanta |
An hour's boatride, away from the Gateway of India in Mumbai lies the small and celebrated island of Elephanta. The cave excavations found on the island are considered to be Mumbai's most attractive tourist spot and date back to the 7th century A.D. |
| The most outstanding sculpture of Elephanta is the 16 feet tall three-headed Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as creator, protector and destroyer. The other interesting sculptures on the island include Ravana the demon god, Shiv and Parvati, and other male and female divinities. The Portuguese are said to have named the place after the sculptured elephants which flank the outside of the main cave. |