The Cave of Elephanta Bombay, 1832 Old Print
An old 1832 print of the Cave of Elephanta in Bombay (Mumbai). This print is a page from the long-defunct The Penny Magazine of London, dated June 30, 1832. According to their report, a team had made the trip to Elephanta Island in around 1832. Observing that one of the earliest monuments of India that attracted the notice of the Europeans was the excavation of Elephanta. Situated around 12 km from Bombay Fort.
It is about 10 km in circumference and composed of two hills with a narrow valley between them. The island has taken its familiar name from a colossal statue of an elephant, cut out of a massive rock. It used to be on the south shore of the island. The head and neck of this elephant dropped off about 1814, owing to a large fissure that ran up through its back. The length of this colossal figure is around 13 feet 2 inches. The height is 7 feet 4 inches.
While advancing forward they gradually mounted an open space, and suddenly came upon the grand entrance of a magnificent temple. Whose huge mass of columns seem to give support to the whole mountain which rises above it. The darkness that obscures the interior of the temple, which is dimly lit only by the entrances. Gives a glimpse of the gigantic religious stone figures, hewn. like the whole temple, out of the living rock.
Did you know – the British attempted to move the elephant to England in 1864, but it broke into pieces, it was then reassembled and is now at the Jijamata Udyaan.
Past posts – M F Hussain Painting – Air India Advertising Postcard 1960., Flora Fountain, Esplanade Road & Trams Bombay – 2 Photos 1895., Kulri Bazaar Mussoorie, 1910 Postcard.
