Marvelous Monuments

Cenotaph of Nagina Masjid is a monument in Champaner, Gujarat state, western India. It was built during the time of Mahmud Begada, in the 15th century. It is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A cenotaph is an empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. Within the precincts of Nagina Masjid there are a few brick structures and step wells. An elegant domed mausoleum is situated in front of the mosque to the northeast. The cenotaph has openings on all four directions; its frontage, columns and niches are decorated with carved floral and geometrical designs. The cenotaph's central dome has disappeared. Picture Credit:  Parth Vaghela

The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged. The main temple's orientation as well as the relative location of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern. The origins and date when the caves were constructed have attracted considerable speculations and scholarly attention since the 19 th century. These date them between 5 th and 9 th century, and attribute them to various Hindu dynasties. They are more commonly placed between 5 th and 7 th centuries. Most scholars consider it to have been completed by about 550 CE. They were named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – by the colonial Portuguese when they found elephant statues on it. They established a base on the island, and its soldiers damaged the sculpture and caves. The earliest attempts to prevent fur...