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Elephanta
Caves : Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta
Caves date back to 600 AD, and attract more visitors each year than the
entire city of Mumbai. No wonder: this place resonates with the
spiritual energy of India. The cave complex is a collection of shrines,
courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the
splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with
exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is situated
on Gharapuri Island in Mumbai's harbour, about an hour's boatride from
the Gateway Of India. At the entrance to the caves is the famous
Trimurti, the celebrated trinity of Elephanta : there's Lord Brahma the
Creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva the Destroyer
Unfortunately, many of the sculptures inside have been damaged by
iconoclastic Portuguese rulers who took potshots at Hindu Gods with
their rifles. And yet somehow, nothing has disturbed the sublime beauty
of this place for centuries.
Elephanta Caves Getting There :
To get to Elephanta Caves, you will need to go to the Gateway of India
in the Mumbai city. From here, get the tickets for the launch (boat or
ferry ). The journey takes 1 hour to reach the island by sea. The launch
travels at a speed of 14 Nautical miles. The tickets are available at
the Maharastra tourism development corp (MTDC) at the entrance of
Gateway. The launch (boat) leaves from
gate no.4 at the rear of Gateway of India. It is about a 45-minute boat
ride from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island. Timing is
between 9.00 to 14.30 hrs. It is closed only on MONDAYS. The best time
to visit is between November and March. There are 2 types of launch:
Economy and Deluxe. One is big, the other one is slightly smaller in
size. Travelling by both carries its own fun experiences. They have a
boat going to Elephanta Island every 30 minutes. Week days are less
crowded than weekends. Get out The first boat leaving Elephanta Island
for Mumbai is at 12:00 noon and the last one is at 5:30PM. If you are
fast, you can the the first boat from Mumbai to Elephanta Island, visit
all caves, go up to Cannon Hill to see the old cannon, come back to the
dockside, and take the first boat back to Mumbai.
Location : Mumbai
Duration : 4 - 6 hours
Itinerary :
Number of Pax :
Guide Service :
- Optional on Request
- English Speaking or language of your
choice subject to availability
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