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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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