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
Yesterday was Buddha Poornima .. and the full moon looked wonderful! Some welcome clouds kept covering it, and the sight was really beautiful! Unfortunately, as I tried to take some photographs, my batteries gave way - not just one, but every single one..... and I wasn't even able to take one photograph! However, here is another full moon for you . .. this one at Binsar....... it was wonderful night, the stars clearly visible in the complete darkness, and I could just sit there for hours, looking out at the moon shining brightly against the utter blackness of the night.... For more skies around the world, go to Sky Watch Friday .