subject: A Trip To Elephanta Caves [print this page] A Trip To Elephanta Caves
Your journey to Mumbai City is not complete without an excursion to the Elephanta Caves. These caves were carved from a single rock from top to bottom. The caves are divided into two parts where the 5 major caves consist of Hindu structures and the two small caves are Buddhist caves. The caves were carved by skilled workmen between the 5th and 8th century AD. The Elephanta caves are located on the Elephanta Island.
You can reach the caves by taking a regular boat from the Gateway of India. The boat charges are nominal and in case. You can enjoy the breeze of the sea and have a bird's eye view of Mumbai by sitting on the rooftop of the boat. Breathe in the fresh air as the boat takes exactly an hour to reach the island. It is an uphill 120 steps climb to reach the caves. The 1 km stretch from the jetty to the stairs can be covered in a mini train. You will see a lot of stalls on both sides as you climb the stairs. These stalls sell food, water and artifacts made of stone.
The tickets can be bought from the counter. When you reach the top you can begin with the main cave that has rock cut excavations depicting the important events in the life of Lord Shiva, a prominent Hindu God. It is best to hire services of a professional guide who will explain you the hidden story behind each rock excavation.
There is a small pond by the side and as you walk further you will see the other caves where work was left incomplete because of various reasons such as rocks too strong to carve through. The main cave was a place of worship for Indians, however the Portuguese came over in 1534. Some parts of the cave were destroyed and even today you can see the bullet marks. Some idols have broken limbs. However the Elephanta Caves are now maintained by the archeological department of India and hence it is a protected monument.
Excursions around the Elephanta Caves take about one and half hour. Many schools take their children to the caves for a full day picnic. At the top of the hill you will see secret caves which were normally taken by the soldiers as escape routes. The view from the top of the hill is amazing. You will also see two canons that were installed in the 5th century. There are plenty of restaurants serving Indian cuisine but you should beware of the monkeys who may snatch the food articles right from under your nose. The MTDC hotel at the top is a good eating option and from the terrace you can see the complete Mumbai harbor line.
For booking an Elephanta Caves tour you can click on the link. You can do an Elephanta Caves excursion through a reputedMumbai travel agent.
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