Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples predominantly

dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.[1][2][3] They are located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri
(literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of
Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahārāshtra. The island, located offshore about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, consists of five Shaivite caves and a few Buddhist stupa mounds
that date back to the 2nd century BCE,[4][2][5] as well as a small group of two Buddhist caves with
water tanks.[6][7]

The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist
ideas and iconography.[5][8][9] The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few
exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged.[10] The main temple's orientation as well
as the relative location of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern.[2] The carvings narrate
Hindu mythologies, with the large monolithic 20 feet (6.1 m) Trimurti Sadashiva (three-faced Shiva),
Nataraja (Lord of dance) and Yogishvara (Lord of Yoga) being the most celebrated.[2][11][12]

The origins and date when the caves were constructed have attracted considerable speculations and
scholarly attention since the 19th century. These date them between 5th and 9th century, and
attribute them to various Hindu dynasties.[1][2] They are more commonly placed between 5th and
7th centuries. Most scholars consider it to have been completed by about 550 CE.[3][13][14]

They were named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – by the colonial Portuguese when they
found elephant statues on it. They established a base on the island, and its soldiers damaged the
sculpture and caves. The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of worship until
the Portuguese arrived, whereupon the island ceased to be an active place of worship.[2] The
earliest attempts to prevent further damage to the Caves were started by British India officials in
1909.[15] The monuments were restored in the 1970s.[2] In 1987, the restored Elephanta Caves
were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is currently maintained by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).[8][9]