Situated at a 10 km radius from Gateway of India is one of the major tourist places in Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves. The caves are said to be one of the oldest rock cut structures in the country and are a perfect example of archaic Indian art associated with the cult of Lord Shiva.
It is reckoned that the caves were adorned with sculptures between the 6th or the 8th century. The island on which the caves are built was originally known as Gharapuri and is a quiet and picturesque island with green foliage and harmless primates. The three-headed Shiva sculpture called Maheshmurti is the main attraction of this island. Apart from it the sculptures of Shiva, in the ‘Shiva Nataraja’ and ‘Ardhanarishvara’ forms are also worth seeing in Elephanta Caves.