India: Elephanta Island Caves
Out in the Mumbai Harbor, it takes a whole hour by ferry to rich the Elephanta Island, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Elephanta Caves. The temples inside the caves were cut out of the black basaltic rock sometime in 5-8th centuries. There is one main Shiva-dedicated cave with various god statues and temples and many pillars – all housed in a dark and humid cave. Then the other leads to several smaller caves further out along the escarpment. While it is clearly historically significant site, it was somewhat under impressing given the crowded ferries and myriads of gawkers and “official guide” along the way.
