Mumbai is a hectic place, with a nonstop chorus of car horns and commerce, so any spot of peace and quiet is welcome. That's why a day trip to Elephanta Island is so perfect. Located 10 kilometers from the southeast coast of the city - about an hour's ride on a ferry - the historic island is home to a series of cave temples with elaborately-carved frescoes of Hindu deities in the walls. The rock-cut temples are dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva, and are thought to date back to the fifth century, when the Hindu revivalist movement was emerging. Visitors enter a gigantic hall that's watched over by a 6.3-meter sculpture of a three-headed Shiva, representing the creator, protector, and destroyer, and proceed to explore the 20,000 square meters of temples, where the frescoes depict scenes of natural and supernatural life. Best of all, the island has spectacular views of Mumbai, which looms majestically in the distance from this tranquil island oasis. Starwood has three hotels in Mumbai, including Le Royal Méridien Mumbai.

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