Elephanta Caves - Reference notes

A group of Hindu cave-temples located on Elephanta I off the W coast of Maharashtra, India; a world heritage site. The temples, which were excavated in the 8th–9th-c, are noted for their sculptures, in particular the ‘Trimurti’, an enormous bust of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.

The Elephanta Caves are the focal point of the Elephanta Island, located in the Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings of the 9th through 13th centuries (810–1260). Some of the sculptures of this site are also attributed to the imperial Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (in present day Karnataka), the Trimurti of Elephanta showing faces of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswar embodied as one being one among them.

The site of these magnificent caves contained beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Śiva.

The great hall: Cave 1	Outside the cave	Entrance

Reference notes

^ Elephanta Caves. ^ Elephanta Caves. ^ Elephanta Caves.