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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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Giant Wood Spider

We were at Sringeri, visiting the Kala Bhairava Temple at one end of the village. We finished our prayers and came out, and as usual, I was trying to get a decent shot of the temple, when a movement on a tree nearby caught my eye. At first, it was difficult to see anything but a huge spider web.. But then, with the camera zoom, I managed to spot the creature that had created that web - a Giant Wood Spider..





I first saw these spiders at Corbett, but hadnt managed to get a photo.... We saw many more at Sringeri, but for various reasons, I never got a decent pic. This was the best I managed with my camera, and I was thrilled at having captured it at last!

Apparently, the huge spider is the female of the species, the male being much smaller....To get a better idea of these creatures, click here.

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  1. AartiNovember 14, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    Have seen these in sringeri but am invariably without a camera or unable to get half a decent shot.. Neat capture..:))

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    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 16, 2012 at 12:40 PM

      Thanks Aarti!! that has happened to me too :D but this time I was lucky!

      Delete
  2. R Niranjan DasNovember 14, 2012 at 4:38 PM

    Awesome shot. Never seen such a big one.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 16, 2012 at 12:41 PM

      THanks Niranjan!!! Once you see one, you keep seeing them wherever u go!

      Delete
  3. SudhageeDecember 8, 2012 at 3:44 PM

    Thanks, Anu. I saw one of these at a hotel bathroom in Kovalam Beach at Trivandrum and didn't know what they were called. Now I know :-)

    ReplyDelete

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