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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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Skywatch Friday - Mountains and the Sky


Lush green, pine-covered mountains extend till the horizon, while the snow capped peaks are hidden by the clouds.... this was the typical scenery as we travelled across Almora and Binsar.

For more skies around the world, go to Sky Watch Friday


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  1. chitraApril 23, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    Wish I could see the snow capped mountains, at least that would have brought some coolness to escape the sweltering heat here.
    Was it cold there?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Smalltown RNApril 23, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    Those moutains look so inticing..wonderful photo...hope you enjoyed your adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. JimApril 23, 2010 at 9:57 AM

    Great shot.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anuradha ShankarApril 23, 2010 at 10:51 AM

    @Chitra: the weather was good early in the morning and in the evenings... afternoons were really hot , but of course, nothing as it is here! it was,after all, summer! you too should go sometime.. the sight of the snow capped mountains is wonderful, but even better if you go to those mountains themselves....

    @smalltown RN: thanks.... oh yes, we did ! it was just too wonderful!
    and i saw the sunrise pics in your blog! wow! what was that dark thing?? did u find out??? it almost looked like a whirlwind in the sky!

    @J Bar: thanks....and your pics are great too! the moon looks awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Carolyn FordApril 23, 2010 at 11:49 AM

    What a beautiful scene. I would love to be standing there gazing at that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gemma WisemanApril 23, 2010 at 3:32 PM

    Beautiful, soft and mystical atmosphere here in these mountains! Lovely photo!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MridulaApril 23, 2010 at 9:28 PM

    Mountains are so refreshing! Beautiful picture.

    ReplyDelete
  8. KcalpeshApril 24, 2010 at 2:35 PM

    The place looks so beautiful and inviting! Almora and Binsar are the names now added in my TO VISIT list :-)

    Pixellicious Photos

    ReplyDelete
  9. muthuApril 25, 2010 at 3:58 AM

    Snow capped mountains- always makes me sing the age old tamil classic song- Pudiya vaanam, Pudiya boomi- engum pani Maalai poligirethe---

    I loved the snap.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anuradha ShankarApril 25, 2010 at 1:06 PM

    @CarolynL thanks...... it was really great, looking at the wide expanse of mountains....

    @Greyscale territory: thanks a lot!

    @Mridula: thanks.....

    @Kcalpesh: yes, you should certainly go! would love to see what you come back with.. pics i mean!

    @muthu: oh yes..... these are places which surely make you sing!

    ReplyDelete

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