Day 1
The Elephanta Caves totally live up to its name. Calm, serene and mighty like an elephant encapsulated on a secluded island.
Gharapuri as the legends suggest was the original name by which Elephanta caves were known before Portugese arrived the western coasts of India.
Gharapuri as the legends suggest was the original name by which Elephanta caves were known before Portugese arrived the western coasts of India.
How to reach -
The trip to elephanta was part of my family vacation to Mumbai. Our typical itenary suggested we should visit this place, but the journey ended up to be a lasting imprint in my memories.
Gateway of India marks the starting point of the journey. We need to board a ferry in order to visit the island. There is a counter selling the ferry tickets on the Gateway of India.
Economy Ferry - Rs. 120 pp
Luxury Ferry - Rs. 150 pp
On deck seating - Rs. 10 pp extra
Monday closed
Clueless of the luxury I would be getting for 30 rupees, I decided to shell out Rs. 150 pp and boarded the ferry with my family.
The ferry services starts at 9:00 am from the gateway and the last ferry departs around 2:00 pm towards Elephanta. Whereas, ferry starts plying from 12:00 pm till 5:30 pm from the island to the Metropolitan Mumbai shores.
The trip to elephanta was part of my family vacation to Mumbai. Our typical itenary suggested we should visit this place, but the journey ended up to be a lasting imprint in my memories.
Gateway of India marks the starting point of the journey. We need to board a ferry in order to visit the island. There is a counter selling the ferry tickets on the Gateway of India.
Economy Ferry - Rs. 120 pp
Luxury Ferry - Rs. 150 pp
On deck seating - Rs. 10 pp extra
Monday closed
Clueless of the luxury I would be getting for 30 rupees, I decided to shell out Rs. 150 pp and boarded the ferry with my family.
The ferry services starts at 9:00 am from the gateway and the last ferry departs around 2:00 pm towards Elephanta. Whereas, ferry starts plying from 12:00 pm till 5:30 pm from the island to the Metropolitan Mumbai shores.
Enroute Ahoy -
It takes around an hour for the ferry to reach the island. That one hour was enough to make me believe that choosing this ride was worthwhile every single penny.
There is adequate snacks supply in the ferry for the food pandas within us.
Few mins into the ocean, people were busy clicking pictures and selfies. Suddenly, we heard crackling sounds approaching our boat very fast. Some 40-50 birds surrounded us and were flying in sync to our boat.
Imagine the sideways head turn that we do suddenly while racing in the front to look our competitors. Albeit this head turn by the birds was not due to any competition, but due to hunger. Localites started opening the biscuit and chips packet to feed the flying birds.
Such skillfull, swift and accurate were those birds in catching the food before their pals from our hands.
Amidst all this excitement, we finally reached the mighty Elephants caves.
What lies inside -
The caves lies at a 10 min steep walk through a local market. The sculptures of Gharapuri are larger than life and has a cluster of caves in which cave 1 is very popular. Cave 1 has the iconic Trimurti trimurti statue where Shiva is personified as Creator, Protector and Destroyer. The trimurti statue is carved out from a single wall. It also holds a central shrine of Shiva Linga. This shrine has openings on all sides with each entrance having dwarapals.
All the sculptures depicts Shiva and other indian gods in different divine forms. Apart from Cave 1 other caves (2,3,4) are not as abundant as the first one but hold magnificent carvings.
Go Shopping -
What trip is a trip without shopping. There are plenty of options for the soveiner seekers as well as some local stuff. But beware of monkeys in the premises.
Cannon Hills -
Intrigued by the name on the board on the entrance of the caves indicating right, I decided to take the 15 mins trek.
The trek is easy and takes you to a panaromic view of the entire Elephant Island. As the name suggested I encountered a Cannon placed amidst the lush greenery symbolising peace and power both at the same time.
Remembering the quick conversation enroute the trek on a makeshift shop I moved further to find the second cannon.
And there it was, shining and onlooking the entire island in all its glory. I stayed there for a while soaking the serenity to enrich my memories.
Believe me.. That simple Nimbu Paani on that makeshift shop felt heavenly after the trek was over.
At the base of the caves there are many restaurants to satiate your hunger and quench your thurst.
There is an optional arrangement of a toy train travel for all the ages at Rs. 10 pp both sides on the bridge connecting the ferry deck to the caves else we can prefer a brisk walk.
Walking is always an option and a way of life but sometimes these small pleasures bring out the kid inside us and also serves as an excuse to the lazy bums amongst..
It takes around an hour for the ferry to reach the island. That one hour was enough to make me believe that choosing this ride was worthwhile every single penny.
There is adequate snacks supply in the ferry for the food pandas within us.
Few mins into the ocean, people were busy clicking pictures and selfies. Suddenly, we heard crackling sounds approaching our boat very fast. Some 40-50 birds surrounded us and were flying in sync to our boat.
Imagine the sideways head turn that we do suddenly while racing in the front to look our competitors. Albeit this head turn by the birds was not due to any competition, but due to hunger. Localites started opening the biscuit and chips packet to feed the flying birds.
Such skillfull, swift and accurate were those birds in catching the food before their pals from our hands.
Amidst all this excitement, we finally reached the mighty Elephants caves.
What lies inside -
The caves lies at a 10 min steep walk through a local market. The sculptures of Gharapuri are larger than life and has a cluster of caves in which cave 1 is very popular. Cave 1 has the iconic Trimurti trimurti statue where Shiva is personified as Creator, Protector and Destroyer. The trimurti statue is carved out from a single wall. It also holds a central shrine of Shiva Linga. This shrine has openings on all sides with each entrance having dwarapals.
All the sculptures depicts Shiva and other indian gods in different divine forms. Apart from Cave 1 other caves (2,3,4) are not as abundant as the first one but hold magnificent carvings.
Go Shopping -
What trip is a trip without shopping. There are plenty of options for the soveiner seekers as well as some local stuff. But beware of monkeys in the premises.
Cannon Hills -
Intrigued by the name on the board on the entrance of the caves indicating right, I decided to take the 15 mins trek.
The trek is easy and takes you to a panaromic view of the entire Elephant Island. As the name suggested I encountered a Cannon placed amidst the lush greenery symbolising peace and power both at the same time.
Remembering the quick conversation enroute the trek on a makeshift shop I moved further to find the second cannon.
And there it was, shining and onlooking the entire island in all its glory. I stayed there for a while soaking the serenity to enrich my memories.
Believe me.. That simple Nimbu Paani on that makeshift shop felt heavenly after the trek was over.
At the base of the caves there are many restaurants to satiate your hunger and quench your thurst.
There is an optional arrangement of a toy train travel for all the ages at Rs. 10 pp both sides on the bridge connecting the ferry deck to the caves else we can prefer a brisk walk.
Walking is always an option and a way of life but sometimes these small pleasures bring out the kid inside us and also serves as an excuse to the lazy bums amongst..
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