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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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Bracket Fungi

Monsoon is the season of life, and we see the growth of all kinds of life all around us..... Not even the dead or dying wood is spared, if you notice these bracket fungi growing on them.

This first one is growing on our pomegranate tree, and it is sad to think that the arrival of this fungus means that our tree has not much longer to live.... Of course, it had never been very healthy, not one of its small pomegranates growing into fruits ripe enough for us to taste. Meanwhile, we are making the most of this opportunity to learn about these forms of life too!


This one grew on a rotting log on the side of the road. I noticed it one day as I went by, and remembered to take my camera along the next day to take a picture. Thankfully, it was still there then, but was gone the very next day!


I remember my very first walk into a jungle and our guide pointing out these interestingly shaped things... I even remember bringing back a piece with me (which crumbled in a few days). I remember how thrilled I was then, to see something 'wild'!!! Imagine seeing the same thing in my garden now!!!!

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Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM

    Maybe too much of rains - The reason.
    Anyways, thanks for sharing. At-least someone is thinking about them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. chitraAugust 14, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    Never knew fungi spoils the tree.
    We call them 'Bebai sathuli' meaning frog's umbrella. The last picture is like a flower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MridulaAugust 14, 2010 at 1:16 PM

    I always enjoy watching mushrooms that sprout everywhere in this season! Thanks for telling me more about them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. IndraniAugust 14, 2010 at 6:49 PM

    Some of them are edible, but of course don't try them. Some are known to be poisonous too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RajeshAugust 14, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    Fantastic captures. As a kid I used to see these a lot. Now I do not see to get them much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AswathiBabuAugust 16, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Anu
    nice effort and thanks for sharing these pictures with us

    ReplyDelete
  7. subu.psAugust 16, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    Is fungii so dangerous to the tree?

    Very recently I enjoyed watching these spread completely over a tree. The trees image is posted here. http://subups.blogspot.com/2010/06/achenkovil-temple-in-paradise.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. jayasreeAugust 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    Didn't know these mushrooms could harm the trees...

    ReplyDelete
  9. UshaAugust 19, 2010 at 8:27 PM

    shows that your garden is growing 'wild' :D

    ReplyDelete

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