Visiting Elephanta Island is one of the top things to do in Mumbai in Summer. It is one such archaeological site that was discovered by the Portugues in the 16th century and is one of the numerous islands in the Mumbai Harbour of the Arabian Sea, about 10 km east of Mumbai and 3 km west of the mainland coast of Maharashtra state, western India.
Elephanta Island is famous for its rock-carved caves, also known as Elephanta caves, however many carvings and sculptures in the caves are destroyed and are in ruins, but you can still see the beauty and the intricateness of the architecture of these caves.
If we talk about Elephanta Island then it is located in the Mumbai harbour of the Arabian Sea. Elephanta Island Mumbai is one of the numerous islands that is around 10 km east of Mumbai city. The Elephanta Island Mumbai consists of 3 villages Shentbandar, Morabandar, and Rajbandar. Elephanta caves are in Shentbandar village which is accessible by tourists.
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Located in the Shentbandar Village of Elephanta Island Mumbai, Elephanta Caves is at an elevation. You have to climb around 120 steps to reach the caves. Well, if you are a shopaholic then while climbing these 120 steps you are going to be distracted by the stalls set up by the local vendors. There are many stalls on either side of the steps selling various items including arts and artefacts, gems, handicraft jewellery, idols, etc.
The caves are estimated to be as old as the 6th century and are built cutting the entire mountain. It was built by the Rashtrakuta rulers. When the Portugues discovered this island for the first time they found a huge statue of an elephant. From there the island got the name Elephanta Island.
Today that elephant statue is kept in Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Jijamata Udyan. The Elephanta Island Mumbai is the glorious abode of Lord Shiva and a tranche of Hindu cave culture, consisting of seven caves on an island out of which Cave 1 is famous for its majestic 20 feet statue of Lord Shiva also known as Sadashiva: Trimurti. Yes, this is the same Trimurti that you must have seen in many pictures, designs, etc while depicting Mumbai.
Many other statues depicting Lord Shiva’s life are also seen in this cave including the Nataraj Statue, Shiva and Parvati Statue are the most famous ones. There are around 36 pillars carved out of the mountain to give support to the temple.
You have to reach Gateway of India, to reach here the nearest railway station for the Central Line and Harbore Line is Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Station (CSMT), and for the Western Line, the closest railway station to reach Gateway Of India is Churchgate Railway Station.
Both the stations have public as well as private transportation available. You can take a shared or personal taxi or you can either get on a bus. Bus Depot is right beside CSMT railway station and from Churchgate there are many buses available that will take you to Gateway Of India.
You can get bus number 116 from CSMT Railway Station and 112 from Churchgate Railway Station. The buses to reach Gateway of India are regular. You will get the bus every 10 to 15 minutes.
Now once you reach Gateway Of India you can get a ferry whose return ticket will cost you around Rs. 260/- if you go from any private ferry and Rs. 200. If you go from economy ferry, they will charge you an extra Rs. 10/ if you want to go on the top of the ferry and enjoy the vast Arabian Sea in the open air. It will take you an hour to reach the Mumbai Elephanta Island.
The ferry rides from Gateway of India start at 09:00 am and the last ferry ride for the day that leaves from Gateway of India is at 3:20 pm and Elephanta Caves is at 5:30 pm.
If you are in Navi Mumbai and want to skip the travel to half then you can go to Belapur CBD Railway Station which falls in Harbor Line, and take a rickshaw to Belapur Jetty. From here you can get the ferry that will cost you around Rs. 825/- and will take you the Mumbai Elephanta Island in 30 minutes.
However, if you have to visit Elephanta Caves the entry fee for the caves is Rs. 40/- for Indians and Rs. 600/- for foreigners.
Suggested Read: Revealing Top 18 Dining Spots In Mumbai | Best Restaurants In Mumbai
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