An hour boat ride from Mumbai, sits Elephanta Island. The island is home to seven caves that were carved into temples, mostly around the sixth century AD. It is named for a large elephant statue that was in the main temple. Which the (depending on what you read) the Portuguese and/or British damaged it trying to remove it from the island, even dropping it in the sea. In1864, restored it and it now sits in what was the Victorian and Albert museum property in Mumbai.
The caves and carvings are made of basalt, and stories are told by explorers early in the Portugese era (16th century) of many carvings and statues in amazing detail. Most of those have been destroyed through the century by church zealots and also natural erosion.
There is a famous Shiva statue is in the main temple.
For more photos, check out our Instagram at cleaninteriors.