A magnificent day at Elephanta Caves with transfer
1 day
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About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Gateway of India, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 400001 India
The tour starts by Picking up from the centrally located hotels in Mumbai dropping off at Gateway of India. Board your boat at Gateway of India and enjoy the one hour ride to the island soaking in the beauty of the surrounding regions.
Embark from your boat and start on the voyage of exploring the magnificent caves hewn from solid basalt rock and predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Elephanta Caves, Mumbai India
Explore the hidden world of rock cut caves and temples depicting Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The 6 hours tour leads you to Elephanta island or Gharapuri (city of caves) passing through the Arabian Sea from Gateway of India – an Indo-Saracenic arch monument overlooking the sea.
Cave 1 – Main, Great Cave
Walk up 120 steep steps or toy train to reach the grand cave consisting of a big square surrounded by cells and several entrances. Consisting of 16 shrines and the temple, it celebrates the various forms and manifestations of Lord Shiva with some larger-than-life sculptures. The main central Shiva relief ‘Trimurti’ is the masterpiece and most important sculpture depicting a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva.
Caves 2 -5: Cannon Hill
Consisting of 4 square pillars and 2 small cells, Cave 2 at the southeast of Great Cave is an incomplete cave after being completely destroyed in the 1970s.
Next to cave 2 and away from the main shrine is cave 3, consisting of pillared recesses and damaged shrine.
Once a Shiva Temple, Cave 4 is now in ruins with a large verandah and small cells for monks
Pillar 5 just ruins with no historical artifacts and remains.
Caves 6-7 – Stupa Hill
One of the two Buddhist caves with the remains of stupa and water tanks is Cave 6 also known as Sitabai’s temple cave. Consisting of 3 chambers and 4 pillars, it is a historically important cave as it was converted as a Church by the Portuguese in the later years.
To the north of the Sitabai cave is the other Buddhist cave – Cave 7 which was abandoned and consisted to be 3 cells. Ahead of it is a dry pond probably considered to the Buddhist water tank in the past because of the presence of cisterns on its shore.
Duration: 5 hours
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This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Gateway of India, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 400001 India
The tour starts by Picking up from the centrally located hotels in Mumbai dropping off at Gateway of India. Board your boat at Gateway of India and enjoy the one hour ride to the island soaking in the beauty of the surrounding regions.
Embark from your boat and start on the voyage of exploring the magnificent caves hewn from solid basalt rock and predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Elephanta Caves, Mumbai India
Explore the hidden world of rock cut caves and temples depicting Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The 6 hours tour leads you to Elephanta island or Gharapuri (city of caves) passing through the Arabian Sea from Gateway of India – an Indo-Saracenic arch monument overlooking the sea.
Cave 1 – Main, Great Cave
Walk up 120 steep steps or toy train to reach the grand cave consisting of a big square surrounded by cells and several entrances. Consisting of 16 shrines and the temple, it celebrates the various forms and manifestations of Lord Shiva with some larger-than-life sculptures. The main central Shiva relief ‘Trimurti’ is the masterpiece and most important sculpture depicting a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva.
Caves 2 -5: Cannon Hill
Consisting of 4 square pillars and 2 small cells, Cave 2 at the southeast of Great Cave is an incomplete cave after being completely destroyed in the 1970s.
Next to cave 2 and away from the main shrine is cave 3, consisting of pillared recesses and damaged shrine.
Once a Shiva Temple, Cave 4 is now in ruins with a large verandah and small cells for monks
Pillar 5 just ruins with no historical artifacts and remains.
Caves 6-7 – Stupa Hill
One of the two Buddhist caves with the remains of stupa and water tanks is Cave 6 also known as Sitabai’s temple cave. Consisting of 3 chambers and 4 pillars, it is a historically important cave as it was converted as a Church by the Portuguese in the later years.
To the north of the Sitabai cave is the other Buddhist cave – Cave 7 which was abandoned and consisted to be 3 cells. Ahead of it is a dry pond probably considered to the Buddhist water tank in the past because of the presence of cisterns on its shore.
Duration: 5 hours
Included
- Private transportation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Return Hotel Transfers
- Ferry and Toy train tickets
- Bottled water
- Entry/Admission - Gateway of India
- Entry/Admission - Elephanta Caves
Not included
- Personal Expenses
- Tips and Gratitude
- Food and Drinks
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
85%
Cultural
65%
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