The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. ... They were named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – by the colonial Portuguese when they found elephant statues on it.
To get to the Elephanta Caves, you will need to go to the Gateway of India in the city of Mumbai. From here you can purchase the tickets for the launch (boat or ferry) from the Maharastra tourism development corp (MTDC) at the entrance of Gateway. The journey by sea takes 1 hour to reach the island.
The cave temples of Elephanta are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rich in sculptural content, the earliest temples trace their origin in the 5th century B.C. Elephanta Caves represent Lord Shiva in his 'lingam' as well as in his typical life form originating from the Shivalingam in the colossal image and in 8 evident forms.
Timings of Elephanta Caves are from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. It is open on all days of the week except on Mondays.
