Elephanta Great Rock Temple - The Entrance

Photograph of the entrance to the cave temple of Elephanta in Maharashtra, taken by D.H. Sykes around 1871 in the illustrated book 'The Rock-Temples of Elephanta or Gharapuri'. The temple was probably commissioned by the Kalachuri dynasty in the 6th century. James Burgess wrote, ''The principal entrance - indeed the only one that can now be said to be quite open - faces the north; and were the earth removed, which in the course of ages has accumulated up to the level of the floor, it would add to the effect of the first view of this stupendous cave by revealing the basement on which the temple stands, with an ascent by steps each two and a half feet broad, leading up to the central opening of the three in the façade. Over this entrance is a thick mass of nearly perpendicular rock overhung by small trees and shrubs...''