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The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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I have always enjoyed travelling. When I was young, we always had to travel on a tight budget , so we always took the trains and buses, and stayed at simple lodgings where ever we went. In fact, we always tried to look for a relative or friend at whose house we could put up. it never seemed like an inconvenience to anyone, as that was what almost everyone did! As a result, my mother has a huge list of friends/relatives/acquaintances at various places, all of whom she actually knows quite well!
we usually went to temples, or my uncles' or aunts' places, but as there were so many of them, we went out for every single school vacation, and spent quite some time at each place.
today things are a lot different. with affluence has come more travel, that too with more comforts. Since my marriage i have been travelling almost 4 to 5 months in a year. many of my journeys are still spiritual, as we usually travel along with my in-laws, but once a year, my husband takes time out for a more tourist-like destination. we don't hesitate to take a vehicle where ever we go, but now time has become a major factor. where earlier we had all the time in the world, now we are running after our schedules everywhere. trips to any place, be it places or worship, or historical places, the urge is to see as many places as possible, so one usually compromises on the time we spend in one place.
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  1. GreentrekkumarSeptember 18, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Wondering whether this is your very first blog or not.!!!!

    You have started this little piece of writing with the lines "I have always enjoyed travelling" ..... and now after marriage, motherhood, miles n miles of bumpy roads and hundreds n hundreds of blogs later YOU HAVE GRADUATED TO EBOOKS (Kashi Yatra) for the benefit of other wanderlust souls.!!!!
    Congratulations.!!! You have been a great inspiration for me to write.!!

    Thanks.
    Greentrek Kumar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anu ShankarSeptember 18, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Thanks so much! I have come a long way since I wrote that first post more than 4 years ago. Since then, I have travelled quite a bit, though it has actually reduced in frequency thanks to my son's school schedule. However, more than anything, what has changed is the way I write... and that is thanks to readers like you who read and comment, and tell me what they like (or dont like!) thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GreentrekkumarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Most welcome. The fact is I need to thank you since u have put the fire in me to write.!!!! Thanks a lot.!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anu ShankarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    It feels so wonderful to hear that!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Great post

    http://www.surjivan.com/

    ReplyDelete

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