Architecture of Elephanta Caves in Mumbai in Agra, India cover photo - 256223038

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The Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. They are on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri literally `the city of caves`, in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres east of Mumbai in the Indian state of MahÄrÄshtra. The island, about 2 kilometres 1.2 mi west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, consists of five Hindu caves, a few Buddhist stupa mounds that date back to the 2nd century BCE,[5][2][6] and two Buddhist caves with water tanks.[7][8] The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, mostly in high relief, that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography.[6][9][10] The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged.[11] The main temple`s orientation as well as the relative location of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern. 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

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