The Elephanta Caves are a compilation of rock-cut cave temples devoted to Lord Shiva.

The Elephanta Caves are a compilation of rock-cut cave temples devoted to the Hindu God Lord Shiva. They are believed to be built between the 5th and 7th centuries.

Various indigenous dynasties contributed to these decorated temples. The monuments are placed on Elephanta Island near Mumbai, western India.

As remarkable as these caves are, they are cut out of the solid basalt rock, the second hardest rock on earth. Most of the carvings narrate Hindu mythologies and even depict complex Yogic postures.

The cave temples were in use by worshippers and devotees until the arrival of Portuguese colonialists on the island of Elephanta.

The artwork carved is primarily that of Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism - three popular sects of Classical Hinduism. Major Hindu deities and Gods like Vishnu, Shiva, Nandi, Durga and Brahma are shown on the walls of these caves, carved beautifully.

The architecture seen in these caves is something special. As magnificent as they look from outside, these caves strike awe into people when they enter inside too!

The inner pillars and mandapa will make you wonder how 5th-century engineers and architects managed to create such massive structures with so much accuracy and perfection! The huge geometrically-cut pillars are just mind-boggling!

One may easily find it hard to believe that these structures were created with 5th-century knowledge of mathematics and engineering, without the use of modern machinery.

Apart from the Hindu caves, there are also two Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BC. One of the Hindu caves was converted into a Portuguese Church in the 16th century.