The Elephanta Caves is an Enesco World Heritage Site and one of the major attractions in the city of Mumbai. The caves exists out of rock cut temples and is located on an island, 10 kilometers away from the Gateway of India, another great sight in this metropolitan city.

The name Elephanta Caves is given by the Portuguese, who named it after the statue of an elephant near the islands landing area. The caves dates back to 600 AD and show columns, images and open spaces insight the rocks. The Elephanta Caves is actually one great sculptured temple, with several chambers and halls. Above the temple is a mass of natural rock.

The entire area covers 60000 square feet and is supported by 26 pillars. The Elephanta Caves has three entrances. The eastern and western entrances mark the temple’s axis. Inside, the temple consists out of a main chamber, several courtyards and subsidiary shines.

The Elephanta Caves show several mystical images. One of them is Sadasiva, a manifestation of Shiva, one of India’s most important gods. The image jumps into the eye when you enter the northern entrance. The image is 20 feet high and seen as a masterpiece of the Indian art.http://www.indiasite.com/maharashtra/mumbai/elephantacaves.html

To reach the Elephanta Caves you have to go by boat. This can arranged on the dock and leave every half hour. The exact times depend on the season. The boat ride takes about 15 minutes and is adventurous at the same time, since the boat cruises up and down the waves of the sea.

A ferry ticket costs about 250 Rupees (around 5 dollars) for a round trip depending on the seat and the season.

The place is easy to visit by bus or taxi. Asks the driver to take you to The Gateway of India. The nearest airport to the Elephanta Caves is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. This airport is located 30 kilometers from the city centre.

Trains come from in from the Northern and the West side of India. The train from the Northern part arrives at the Western Railway Terminus. If you travel from Delhi you can find train connections like Rajdhani Express or Sampark Kranti Express straight to Mumbai.http://www.transorientholidays.com/mumbai-travel.htmlhttp://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/elephanta-caves