AAA Colorado ~ EnCompass Magazine

This issue's Mystery Destination photo is Elephanta Caves, located on Elephanta Island in the harbor of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. The caves were carved into a large underground temple precinct some time between 450 and 750 A.D. The "City of Caves" consists of around 60,000 square feet of spectacular carved columns, statues, sculptures, shrines, rooms and corridors. The sculptures include a colossal three-headed relief of the Hindu god Shiva, considered to be among the finest examples of Indian art of this period.

Visiting the caves requires an hour-long boat trip from Mumbai. Boats leave regularly throughout the day. The stone stairway leading to the caves is lined with souvenir stands and food vendors — though some visitors suggest it's best not to carry any food, to avoid being pestered by the island's hungry monkeys!

The original name of the island was Gharapuri ("Fortress City"), but it was renamed Elephanta by Portuguese sailors who captured the island from the Sultan of Gujarat in 1535. The name came from a large statue of an elephant near the shore. This statue has since been removed and can be seen at Victoria Gardens in Mumbai. Other carvings were vandalized in the 16th century by the Portuguese, who even used some of the temple galleries for target practice.

Elephanta Caves became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and since that time a greater effort has been made to educate visitors about respect for this important cultural and historical site.

Your AAA Travel professional can assist you with planning a trip to India or any other international or domestic destination.