Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an example of mediaeval Indian rock-cut art and architecture. The caverns are situated on the Elephanta or Gharapuri island, which is 11 kilometres away from Mumbai. The Elephanta Caves, also known locally as Gharapurichi Leni, are the remains of once-complexly painted artworks. It also offers a breathtaking perspective of Mumbai’s skyline. The Elephanta Caves are accessible from the Gateway of India by ferry. The majority of the cave temples in this collection, which date from the fifth to the seventh century, are devoted to Lord Shiva.

There are two groups of alcoves in the site of the Elephanta Caves, the first is a large group of five Hindu caves and the second one is a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain the stone sculptures representing the Shaiva Hindu sect. The caves are an expression of art and a number of important imageries are sculpted here, which include ‘Trimurti’ or three-headed Shiva, ‘Gangadhar’ which is a manifestation of the river Ganga as she descends to the earth and ‘Ardhnareshwar’, which is a representation of Shiva and Parvati in the same body. In addition to being an important heritage site, the Elephanta Caves are also an unlikely trekking destination.