Elephanta Caves is a quick getaway from the daily din of Mumbai. Planned properly, you can complete this trip in half a day. Here’s how.
Trip itinerary to Elephanta Caves
- Take the local and reach Churchgate Station by 08:15.
- Take a taxi (it’s a 5-minute ride) to The Gateway of India.
- Book tickets on the 09:00 ferry to Elephanta Island. Tickets are priced at Rs. 120 a head (return journey included) and can be bought at the counters near the entrance to The Gateway of India. You need to pay an extra Rs. 10 to sit on the top deck.
- Reach Elephanta Island by 10:15.
- Explore the ruins at your leisure. Don’t forget to trek up to Cannon Hill. It’s worth it.
- Catch the 13:00 ferry back and reach The Gateway of India by 14:15.
- Have a scrumptious buffet lunch at The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (approx. Rs. 1100 per head).
- 16:00 - Catch the local back to your area.
It’s quite OK even if you miss the 09:00 and 13:00 ferries. There are regular departures and return trips throughout the day, spaced approximately half an hour apart. But it’s in your best interests to stick to the above schedule and avoid the mid-day heat.
Food, water, and even beer is not a problem on the island. There are quite a number of decent hotels where you can have a quick, clean bite. Light cottons, a cap, and sunglasses are recommended.
Elephanta Caves Photos
The entrance to the island. For Rs. 8 you can take a two-way ride on the toy train (faintly visible in the photo) up to the foothills.
Everything’s in complete ruin here. The Archaeological Society of India (ASI) is patching up the ruins thereby ruining it even more!
The entrance to the caves.
To be continued…
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Goutham 12.19.06 at 11:22 am
Unfortunate to see that such amazing sculptures were destroyed either by invaders or local elements. Even now, several heritage sites are in the same shape and the incredible Indian government is least bothered.
Vinaya HS 12.19.06 at 11:28 am
“Incredible India! But where is the credibility?” Remember that?
Nilakshi.Naik.Dhar 12.24.06 at 4:18 am
its bad to see that history is slowly getting erased but we as an individual should take responsibility to maintain sculptures of history because they r assets for us.
Zeben 09.10.07 at 1:27 pm
Hi, the photos are really very well taken. The information also seems to be very useful.
India is really a delightful destinations for visitors. There’s so much to see and explore and we at times are spoilt for choices.
I am planning to visit Mumbai soon.
mansi 10.03.08 at 8:35 pm
gud help dear
Syn 11.14.08 at 11:38 am
Im taking my teenager niece there tomorrow and was surfing for more info, given that my last visit must have been more than three decades ago! Nice photos. It is a crying shame that the ASI have plastered instead of restoring these magnificent sculptures. Let me see how it is tomorrow. I wanted to take an early ferry before 9am but I am unable to find ferry timings anywhere, so anyway we will plan to be at the Gateway around 0815 and try our luck.
Anvar 11.22.08 at 9:01 pm
Thanks for the info..Useful indeed!