Elephanta: The City of Caves | Wonders of Ancient India, Ep. 1

The Elephanta Caves are a complex of Hindu caves, predominantly dedicated to the cult of the god Shiva, located on Elephanta Island, in Mumbai Harbor.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the caves are believed to have been carved between the 5th and the 6th century CE during the Kalachuri dynasty.
There is, however, considerable debate on the age of the caves and the means by which they were hollowed out of the solid basalt rock, with some claiming the caves may be well over 10,000 years old.
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Music:
Original Music by Tashi Gyalpo
Shuvo Gosh/ ncvnocopyrightvibesshuvoghosh
- Indian Background Music | Indian Classical Beat
- Indian Traditional Temple Instrumental Music
@Ncv-No Copyright Vibes
#ancientindia #archaeology #documentary

[@gajendrapatil7863]

There are more than 60 locations in Maharashtra having caves of Hindu , Budha Gods , Great Maharashtra, Great People.

[@UnchartedRuins]

I had the chance to visit several of them. I am working on a new video of the Kanheri Caves, also near Mumbai, and the Bhaja, Bedse, and Karla caves.

[@SahilR9993]

These pillars in the cave can't be build without using leth machine, same type of pillars can be seen in Hoyesaleshwar temple , Karnataka

[@UnchartedRuins]

These are monolithic pillars, carved out of the natural bedrock, so not lathe turned, although their workmanship is nothing short of extraordinary

[@ndahiya3730]

1st glance & thought exactly the same and recalled Varangal fort video by Praveen Mohan; The university of architecture.

[@SahilR9993]

@@ndahiya3730 yes Praveen Mohan is the most underrated andtrue 💎 of Bharat (india)

[@ndahiya3730]

@@UnchartedRuins saw the video again. Yes, monolithic. That means, Elephanta too, is made with reduction technique, like Kailash Mahadev temple. Now, the Question is : How distant are they from each other, on geography and on timeline?

[@ashleysilver5594]

Like Kailash this is also a monolithic structure carved out of a single hill. The pillars in Hoysaleshwara temple are not monolithic and have interconnecting sections. It would have been interesting to see what kind of device carved such perfect pillars into the hill. Definitely not done by primitive humans but an advanced race. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock which is very hard to cut. This temple would have been part of the mainland before sea level rise made it an island. My estimate of its age is probably 10000 years or more (last ice age).

[@vancegilmore245]

The caves were excavated by monks chanting powerful mantras, using power tools.

[@UnchartedRuins]

So the legend says…

[@KellieEverts-ss8uz]

L o l

[@KellieEverts-ss8uz]

While levitating...

[@KellieEverts-ss8uz]

Well it is said and we know all about vibrational skills and magnetism....and sound bombs ....

[@alokm1233318]

Amazing production quality!

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! 🙏

[@sincerewyd2285]

Amazing. Has praveen Mohan been there before? Beautiful India !!

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@0arjun077]

No India is huge and is full of ancient things so even if Praveen Mohan takes his life time there will be something left.

[@cweefy]

Just imagine the great people who created these incredible sites seeing how their modern countrymen can't even pick up after themselves, leaving trash and garbage all over that beautiful country.

[@davebainan8712]

Amazing ancient structure.❤india

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@ndahiya3730]

There is no such thing like destruction in Hindu cosmology. The word *Pralaya* means *dissolution.* Laya to dissolve, pra is adjective specifying superlative degree. प्र प्रकृष्टार्थे। So, nothing is destroyed, just dissolved, for a creation afresh.

[@UnchartedRuins]

Excellent point. Thank you! 🙏

[@ndahiya3730]

@@UnchartedRuins 🙏

[@singapore5500]

New theory suggest this caves is old more than 2300 years

[@UnchartedRuins]

Do you have any links to this study? Thanks! 🙏

[@Giza107]

Video is good…, but I’m sorry to say that the music was not the least pleasing… The Indian music (sitar or whatever) you added was too loud for me - it’ll be great if you could find something more soothing. Just shared my honest opinion.

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! Appreciate the feedback!

[@ndahiya3730]

@@UnchartedRuins Whatever the music, please all creators, keep it low, very low. Let the narration be crisp & clear.

[@PrathamYvv]

Indian Rock-cut Cave temple architecture is absolutely beautiful. A lot of these temples were defaced and destroyed during the Islamic and Colonial era. Did you know many sculptures in the Elephanta caves were destroyed during the shooting practices by the Portuguese!

[@UnchartedRuins]

It’s a tragedy that so much of this beautiful art has been looted or destroyed

[@PrathamYvv]

@@UnchartedRuinsyup it’s heartbreaking, The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb even tried to destroy the Kailash temple but failed.

[@singapore5500]

Must visit kailash temple in ellora (maharashtra) . Largest rock cut monolithic structure in the world . An underrated wonder of the world

[@UnchartedRuins]

I am currently working on a new video on the Ellora caves! Stay tuned! 🙏

[@adityamishra1801]

Very accurate demonstration

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! 🙏

[@markpinagpala2784]

majestic ❤❤❤

[@LokeshaHalepetethimmaiah]

The majestic great great stone carved temples in Maharashtra.but created by great Karnataka king's rulled both at that times.❤❤❤❤

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@KellieEverts-ss8uz]

Elephratra...Alligator Patra etc ..Dragon Patra....

[@singapore5500]

Also visit some great temples of india , brihadeeswra temple (tamilnadu) , hoysaleshwara temple( karnataka) , hampi , badami cave temples , mahabaipuram temples , pattadakkal temples , meenakshi amman temple, konark sun temple etc

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you for the advice! I have visited all of these sites (except Konarak Sun Temple) and am working on a series of videos on each one of them!

[@avinashkamble318]

AWLEKITESHWARA

[@shridharthingalaya10]

❤

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@shamlimbore9406]

......Awesome......💓

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@akiryu-yr5to]

😮😮😮😮😮❤❤❤❤❤❤😮😮😮❤❤❤😮😮😮❤❤❤❤

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you!

[@AshikTheTraveler]

❤❤❤

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! 🙏

[@joaquimfonseca2047]

NICE......

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! Stay tuned for more videos!

[@avinashkamble318]

BUDDHIST VIHARA

[@UnchartedRuins]

The Elephanta Caves are actually Hindu temples. They date to the 5-6 Century CE, as opposed to some of the earliest Buddhist excavations at sites like Karla, Bhaja, Bedse, and Kanheri, dating from as early as the 2 Century BCE.

[@MrTee2012]

Wow❤👍

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! Stay tuned for more videos of ancient Indian sites!

[@fusion9619]

Really cool! Except for that poser Blavatsky at the end... I really liked how you showed it on the map, that makes it easier to dream of visiting.

[@UnchartedRuins]

Thank you! Independent of anyone’s opinion on Blavatsky and her Theosophical Society, I think she is an important part of the lore surrounding these caves.