Elephanta Caves, Mumbai

A nice visit for a morning in Mumbai is a trip to the Elephanta Island (see transportation for ferry details), hinduist caves carved on rock. Entrance 10 $. Ferry 85 Rs.

At the entrance there are a lot of souvenir shops.

The Shiva Tromuri (3 faces) statue, at the bottom of the main cave, is the main attraction.

ELEPHANTA CAVES, on the island of Elephanta in Bombay's harbor, house amazing cave temples to Siva. The dating of the caves, and of the sculptures within them, is controversial. They were probably finished some time between 450 and 750 AD. The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD, and attract more visitors each year than the entire city of Mumbai. No wonder: this place resonates with the spiritual energy of India. The cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is situated on Gharapuri Island in Mumbai's harbour, about an hour's boatride from the Gateway Of India. At the entrance to the caves is the famous Trimurti, the celebrated trinity of Elephanta : there's Lord Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva the Destroyer Unfortunately, many of the sculptures inside have been damaged by iconoclastic Portuguese rulers who took potshots at Hindu Gods with their rifles. And yet somehow, nothing has disturbed the sublime beauty of this place for centuries.

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If you are visiting dont miss the museum out there. These are only a few but a whole lot of collection is available out there.