The water is more shallow in Exuma and that will help somewhat. We caught a boat from Belapur to the caves. I have been spending part of January in south (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? However, I don't think I'll ever forget the Elephanta Caves as after my visit I found out that the 1000 and 500 rupee notes had been banned overnight and were no longer legal tender. The shrine door has some traces of sculpture. Exuma still remains my happy place but I look forward to more Eleuthera explorations. The Hindu caves are dedicated to the god Shiva. [17] The earliest efforts to preserve the Elephanta Caves were taken by British India officials in 1909 when the site was placed under the Indian Archaeological Department and the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act included it within its scope. To the early Buddhists a stupa was an object of supreme veneration" in, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, Elephanta Caves: Apolla Bandar Gateway of India, "UNESCO State of Conservation Report: India, Elephanta Caves", Archive of historic Elephanta Caves ruins photographs, Archive of historic Elephanta Caves sketches and paintings, Elephanta Caves Timings & Ferry Timetable, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elephanta_Caves&oldid=1157244074, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 27 May 2023, at 09:37. [7] The scene is crowded with accessory figures, which may be because the eastern entrance was meant to have a devotional focus. The Elephanta Caves are two groups of caves that contain Hindu and Buddhist rock art architecture. Though a relief, it is carved to give it a three dimensional form, as if the ferocious Shiva is coming out of the rocks and impaling Andhaka with his trident. This is the Shiva form as the "master of positive and negative principles of existence and preserver of their harmony". Study under the two phases Phase I/ Satavahana Phase Throughout his life Buddha was against the idea of sculpting and painting images of him. The Portuguese had also removed and then lost an inscription stone from the caves. The Ellora caves are divided into three parts - Hindu Caves, Jain Caves, and Buddhist Caves. found on the subcontinent. * : Even mid-late Feb it starts to warm up a bit. [41] The smaller shrine's sanctum features a linga and has a circumambulatory path around it. [68], To the south-east of the Great Cave is Cave 2. The Bureau also requested the concerned authorities to implement visitor control measures and to keep the Committee informed of the developments of the OECF Ajanta-Ellora Development Plan and conservation plans at Elephanta. The seven caves constitute one of the most striking collections of rock-cut style of architecture in India. Aspirants can check out the related links given below to do comprehensive preparation of upcoming exams - Ellora Caves It is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra. Gangadhara, 6. The publication of their condition, sketches and interpretation by James Burgess in 1871 brought wider attention. It used to be on the south shore of the island, the British attempted to move it to England in 1864, it broke, the reassembled pieces are now at the. The Toyota Corolla Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 1st out of 36 for compact cars. [7], There are five rock-cut caves in the western hill and a brick stupa on the eastern hill. The mother goddess Parvati stands tall next to Shiva, smiling. Take the ferry from Elephanta Caves to Gateway of India, Colaba, Mumbai. Tools The Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site [1] [2] [3]. They established a base on the island. The early speculations and misconceptions about these caves led to many interpretations and scholarly disagreements but also increased the support for their preservation. [20][2], The temple is enclosed in the cave, it has interior walls but no exterior wall. The remnants of his sides suggest that this was likely a four arm iconography. The mandapa pillars of the two align up. [32] The right half-face (west face) shows him holding a lotus bud, depicting the promise of life and creativity. In my opinion, Elephanta Caves should not be compared with Ellora or Ajanta, since the size of those two sites will definitely make Elephanta to be an underdog, but the Shiva depictions on Elephanta are more refined and graceful than Ellora For me Elephanta Caves is something like a small museum that possessed one great masterpiece that must see in India. [61] The temple and all the pillars are laid out to lead the pilgrim's view towards it, the cella is visible from any point inside the cave and its most significant progression. I actually was thinking of doing both in one trip but I am not sure that will work out this time timing-wise. 2. I like Long for the fact of few people. Some of the artworks from here were moved to museums and private collections by mid 19th century, including those related to Brahma, Vishnu and others. In another he holds a folded cloth, possibly symbolic veil of maya. The average annual repair cost is $362 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The hall has 3 chambers at the back, the central one a shrine and the rest for monks or priests. The mid-sixth century Elephanta Caves carved in Deccan basalt, on the island of Elephanta in the Mumbai harbour ( Fig. The Ajanta and Ellora caves, carved into the hillside rocks of Maharashtra, are India's most famous caves, illustrating the rich cultural history and spectacular architectural style of the bygone periods. Cave 6 and 7 are about 200m (660ft) northeast of Cave 1 and 2, but geologically on the edge of the eastern hill. [16][2][15] These scholars attribute these Cave temples to king Krishnaraja of the Kalachuri dynasty. There are places to eat and some activities but if you are looking for a place with more tourism structure I would choose Eleuthera (or Exuma from what I have heard). The Elephanta Caves date back to the 8th century. Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in todays complex world, where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development, unsustainable tourism practices, neglect, natural calamities, pollution, political instability, and conflict. The carvings are substantially damaged, but the ruined remains of the sculpture have been significant to scholarly studies of Hindu literature. [4], The Portuguese ceded the island in 1661 to the colonial British, but by then the Caves had seen considerable damage. The broken pillars seen in the right image were restored in the 1970s. On the island I had been approached by the typical guide scam who always claimed that you need a proper guide to enter the caves, just ignored them. The extra hours of daylight later in the year would be nice for sure, but just seeing the sunshine for part of the day is therapeutic. The most visited and significant cave is on the western hill and is called Cave 1 or the Great Cave, located about a kilometer walk up a steep graded uphill. It is a 17m (56ft)-wide courtyard with a circular pedestal. [69], Cave 4 is quite damaged, the large verandah lacking all its columns. The cave's main entrance is aligned with the northsouth axis, unusual for a Shiva shrine (normally eastwest). Fig: Junagadh Caves. These include an almost completely destroyed Durga statue with only the buffalo demon with Durga's legs and some waist surviving. Compared to the Ajanta and Ellora caves, that I later visited they tend to fall down slightly in rank. . Ellora has a total of 34 caves dated between the sixth and eleventh centuries AD, and Ajanta . back to Exuma vs Eleuthera - thegreatlizby - surely you will love either one you pick- both have lots of die hard fans - Exuma is quite a bit further south. [31] As per another version, the three heads symbolize compassion and wisdom. basalt. Ajanta/ ellora needs at least a weekend. Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0 [82][5] Coins of the Kshatrapas (Western Satraps) dating to the 4th century CE were found on the island. [31] The left half-face (east face) is that of a moustached young man. The eastern hill is also called the Stupa hill, while the western hill is called the Canon hill, reflecting their historic colonial-era names, the ancient Stupa and the Portuguese era firing Canons they host respectively. The caves were carved out from solid basalt rock. [25] These were badly damaged when the Portuguese ceded control of this region to the British. In western India most of the caves are located around the hills or there is one single group of caves that is Pitalkhora, which is in a valley, so that is also unique, but otherwise most of the caves are on the hills. On top of the rock sit the four-armed Shiva and Parvati by his side. Elephanta Caves. After lunchtime from the Gateway of India, a symbolic entrance to subcontinent during the British Empire in Mumbai, I took a boat ride to see the Elephanta Caves on the island of the same name just outside the metropolis. [10], The two hills are connected by a walkway. [64] Additionally, the mothers are flanked on one side with Ganesha and the other with Skanda (Kartikeya) when typical artwork from mid 1st millennium show the Shakta mothers with Ganesha and Shiva. [41] It shows Bhairava, or Virabhadra, a ferocious form of Shiva killing the demon Andhaka (literally, "blind, darkness"). 16. The cave was adorned with many Shiva depictions. [6][13][14], These date to between the 5th and 9th centuries, and scholars attribute them to various Hindu dynasties. Suddenly the air is fresh and the sound of the bustling city is far away. [47][48][49], The relief is in a dilapidated condition with most of the arms and legs broken. Right: Ravana shaking Mount Kailash. A megalith carved from a rock cliff face, it is considered as one of the most remarkable cave temples in the world because of its size, architecture and sculptural treatment, and "the . Your blog posts are terrific - very helpful. The statue collapsed in 1814 and the British then moved it to the mainland. However, in reality, there is no visitor-control and approximately 100 people enter each caves at once. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. These rock-cut cave temples were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Some criticized it as having "nothing of beauty or art", while some called it "enormous artwork, of extraordinary genius".[93]. Three different names knew the island during ancient times. 12. The trip took exactly one hour to reach the island passed many navy bases, cargo ports, petroleum jetties and a nuclear power plant, if not because of UNESCO protection, I believe Elephanta Island will be a part of Mumbai electrical grid production. [57][59] According to Charles Collins, the discernible elements of this panel are generally consistent with those in medieval era Puranas, though there is a lack in literal correspondence with any single text. The Elephanta caves are a wonderful link to our past. GS Paper - 1 Indian Architecture Cave Architecture Rock Cut Architecture Indian Heritage Sites Why in News Two tourist visitor centres set up at Ajanta and Ellora caves by the Maharashtra government have been shut due to their pending water and electricity dues worth 5 crore. The caves are an expression of art and a number of important imageries are sculpted here, which include 'Trimurti' or three-headed Shiva, 'Gangadhar' which is a manifestation of the river Ganga as she descends to the earth and 'Ardhnareshwar', which is a representation of Shiva and Parvati in the same body. This helped isolate the island and preserve the ruins. [2] Colonial era historians suggested that the caves were built by the Rashtrakutas in 7th century or after, a hypothesis primarily based on some similarities with the Ellora Caves,[2] but this theory has been discredited by later findings. For a January trip, I have gotten it down to the Exumas vs. ASI is investigating sources of water seepage at Ajanta and an expert meeting will be held in 1998. The reliefs and sculptures in the caves has been dated to between the 5th or 6th and 8th centuries. In the main there is a number of large sculpted panels, all relating to Shiva. [1][2][3] They are on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally meaning "the city of caves"),[4] in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2mi) east of Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahrshtra. You guys are great - thank you! [39][40] The pair of hands at the back is also bejewelled; the right hand of the male side holds a serpent, while the left hand of the female side holds a mirror. [90] The colonial era British publications state they were "defaced by the zeal of Mahommedans and Portuguese". Collection of cave temples in Maharashtra, India, The 5.45 metres (17.9ft) high Trimurti sculpture. I visited this WHS in November 2016. Photograph of Cave 6, and plan of the cave. I would not recommend anyone going to Spanish Wells, RHC/Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino, French Leave Resort, Autograph Collection. Yogishvara Babycatcher2, I have to laugh.I'd GLADLY take Washington DC winters over Connecticut ones! Many of the Out Islands are, and will continue to be, on my to-do list but I think I have to focus on one this time around. The other characters shown in the wedding carry items or are shown holding items that typically grace a Hindu wedding. [69] At the back of the portico are three chambers. [10][20] The three-headed Shiva are his creator, preserver and destroyer aspects in Shaivism. The difference between Ajanta and Ellora caves is that Ajanta caves reflect the architecture of only Buddhism religion. The Portuguese named the island "Elephanta Island" in honour of a huge rock-cut black stone statue of an elephant that was then installed on a mound on the island. I have heard MANY wonderful things about the Ajanta and Ellora caves, and have friends who have been there. The eastern hill has two Buddhist mounds and is called the Stupa hill. After around one hour in the Arabian Sea, I set foot on Elephanta Island and decided to walk along the jetty instead of waiting for the tourist train to depart. There were lots of monkeys too. [80], The significant statues of Vishnu are difficult to explain and to position inside other surviving caves. Above him are ruin remains of celestial gods or goddesses or apsaras. His body and arms are shown as wildly gyrating in the lalita mudra, a symbolism for occupying all of space, soaring energy and full bodied weightlessness. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged. This temple is said to have been built during the reign of the Gupta Dynasty. Another hand (partly broken) gives the semblance of Shiva hugging Parvati, with a head of matted hair. Caves 2 through 5 are next to Cave 1 further southeast, arranged in a row. [27] The walls of the mandapa feature other Shaivism legends. Inside the west face of this small shrine (see 1012 of plan) are Sapta Matrikas, or the "seven mothers" along with Parvati, Kartikeya (Skanda) and Ganesha. I am actually now based primarily in Chicago, and so look for any chance to escape the bleak landscape of January and February there. [64], On the west side of the main hall is another attached shrine, though in a much more ruined state. Left: Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasha. From the crown, a cup with a triple-headed female figure (with broken arms) to depict the three major rivers in Hindu texts. 3. [90] In contrast, others such as Ovington and Pyke, link the greater damage to be from the Christian Portuguese soldiers and their texts which state they used the caves and statues as a firing range and for target practice. (from1994-1994), Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage, Heritage Solutions for Sustainable Futures, Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative (CAWHFI), Reducing Disasters Risks at World Heritage Properties, World Heritage and Sustainable Development, World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest. 9. You should definitely make time to visit Ajanta/Ellora, nearest city is Aurangabad. And now, between the two.I'm still not sure. The caves at Ellora in Maharashtra, India, are among the most impressive examples of. [20], The island has two groups of rock-cut caves, hewn from solid basalt rock. [20][2], The Trimurti is considered a masterpiece and the most important sculpture in the caves. One wears a dhoti and has a looped girdle, while holding a conch at an angle near his thigh. The pillars are similarly aligned eastwest to this shrine and have an east entrance. airieb1 - sorry we are hijacking your topic though sort of related? This Shiva yogi comes across as the "lord of the caves" or Guhesvara in medieval Indian poetry, states Kramrisch. I also opted to pay the extra 10 rupees to stay on the upper deck which is even less crowded and great for taking photos of the Gateway of India. The hall is devoid of any decoration, except for the door of the central shrine, which has pilasters and a frieze, with the threshold decorated with lion figures. However, states Collins, its depth of carving appears inferior and it seems more eroded being more open to rains and water damage. This form of Shiva is called Yogishvara, Mahayogi, Lakulisa. Chandra (moon god), for example, holds a traditionally decorated water vessel (kalash). Other scholarly studied museum held Elephanta sculpture includes a part of Brahma head, several ruins of Vishnu from different statues, a range of panels and free-standing stone carvings. The second half-man side is Shiva with male characteristics and items iconographically his symbol. Shiva slaying Andhaka The parts of the panel that have survived suggest that he is holding an axe, a coiled serpent is wrapped around its top. 29 reviews 69 helpful votes Elephanta vs. Ajanta/Ellora Caves 16 years ago Save Hello, I am about to go on my third trip to India. [98], The Elephanta Caves are mentioned more than once in Herman Melville's Moby Dick,[99] and also feature in Somerset Maugham's 1944 novel The Razor's Edge.[100]. The Portuguese renamed the island Elephanta because of a large stone elephant near the shore. 5. The Ellora Caves are located in the state of Maharashtra. I was hugely impressed by the Trimurti, a massive depiction of Shiva with three heads. The exciting echo effect is a common feature of all the Babrabar caves. [2][6] They are most commonly placed between the 5th and 7th centuries. The biggest difference between them comes down to getting the features you want at the right price. There are about 25 shops, all unauthorised, along the stairway leading from the jetty to the caves. The central door at the back of the portico leads to a damaged shrine, the sanctum seems to be for a Linga, but that is lost. Factors that affect all three sites are; (i) tree roots above the caves create cracks and increase water seepage into the caves, which leads to wall painting and sculpture damage and eventual structural instability; (ii) humidity increase within the caves caused by uncontrolled numbers of visitors which leads to fungus growth, attracting insects and eventually bats; (iii) inadequate security encourages vandalism and theft. Above them are gods and goddesses such as Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and others who are seated on their vahanas. It is also known as Sadashiva and Maheshmurti. Cave 1 is the largest and is 39 metres (128ft) deep from the front entrance to the back. The historic Elephanta artwork was inspired by the mythology, concepts and spiritual ideas found in the Vedic texts on Rudra and later Shiva, the epics, the Puranas and the Pashupata Shaivism literature corpus of Hinduism composed by the 5th-century. Though this generation debuted back in 2017, the Elantra still keeps pace with modern rivals in terms of comfort and driving feel. If that had been our only week I would have been terribly disappointed. It's a trade off between that and getting away from miserable DC area weather. [83] The regional history is first recorded in the Gupta Empire era, but these do not explicitly mention these caves. I walked off in anticipation of seeing more sculptures but saw nothing but empty caves. Elephanta is just a day trip when in Mumbai. The Ellora Caverns, which feature Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist caves, are 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Ajanta, the last of which dates from a period similar to Ajanta. It represents the ancient Hindu concept of essential interdependence of the feminine and the masculine aspects in the universe, for its creation, its sustenance and its destruction. Between these is a sanctum with a Shiva Linga. [45] Their dress reflect the Hindu customs. The famous Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves are a set of ancient rock cave monuments located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India. It was called Gharapuri or Gharapur Island, which means City of Caves, Sonapuri, and Elpata. Get answers to your questions about Eleuthera, North Palmetto Point vs. South Palmetto Point, 2 Separate Day Trips - Harbour Island/Spanish Wells. 15. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave. The stone elephant that gave the name Elephanta. [29][31], The Trimurti Shiva is flanked on its left by Ardhanarisvara (a half-Shiva, half-Parvati composite) and Gangadhara legend to its right. Also, my last post is a short comparison of the two locations. I look at the upside of missing winter in Maryland - avoiding 6 weeks of freezing temps and icy roads is a huge bonus for me. The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international communitys efforts to protect and preserve. Requests approved:1 In the lower left of the panel is a kneeling devout figure in namaste posture representing the heroic mythical king Bhagiratha who worked hard to bring the river of prosperity to his earthly kingdom, but unaware of the potentially destructive forces that came with it. This is Shiva as the terrifying Aghora or Bhairava, the chaos creator and destroyer. This one single group of caves which you . [10][20][2] However, inside is an integrated square plan Linga shrine (garbha-griya) that is aligned eastwest, opening to the sunrise. An alternative interpretation of the three-bodied goddess in Gangadharamurti panel here and elsewhere is that it represents the regenerative powers of rivers in the form of Mandakini, Suradhani and Bhagavati. [6] The carvings narrate Hindu mythologies, with the large monolithic 5.45 metres (17.9ft) Trimurti Sadashiva (three-faced Shiva), Nataraja (Lord of dance) and Yogishvara (Lord of Yoga) being the most celebrated. (yes, I have stayed that long). It was identified to be Shiva by Pramod Chandra, as Kartikeya by Moti Chandra, and as Vishnu by others. . There are 5 Hindu caves in total even though the main cave has the most important sculptures. [26] The Sadashiva is flanked by two large friezes, one of Ardhanarishvara and the other of Gangadhara. [69], Cave 3 is next to Cave 2, as one continues to go away from the main shrine. [21][22], The main cave, also called Cave 1, Grand Cave or the Great Cave, is 39.63 metres (130.0ft) square in plan with a hall (mandapa). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-85463116', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Bahamas to go to. Shiva Linga shrine inside the cave complex. The artists carved a small three bodied goddess up high, a symbolism for Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati. Location map of Elephanta's Stupa Hill with its Buddhist monuments: caves 6 and 7, stupas 1 and 2. Currently cracks are being filled with cement but other options need to be found. This was the only site where I had trouble getting the free entry that was granted by it being Indian World Heritage week, but the attendants did eventually relent for me, but carried on charging everyone else despite the large signs saying otherwise. Inadequate illumination at Ajanta could lead to irreversible long-term damage of wall paintings. [17], More specific legislation to preserve the Elephanta Island monuments were enacted with the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 and Rules (1959); The Elephanta Island (Protected Monument) Rules of 1957, which prohibits mining, quarrying, blasting, excavation and other operations near the monument; the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act promulgated in 1972 with its Rules promulgated in 1973; a Notification issued in 1985 declaring the entire island and a 1-kilometre (0.62mi) area from the shore as "a prohibited area"; a series of Maharashtra State Government environmental acts protecting the site; the 1966 Regional and Town Planning Act; and the 1995 Heritage Regulations for Greater Bombay.