3 h

With guide

About this activity

Elephanta Caves is a must-see destination for history buffs or archaeology afficionados who would like to see true excavations pertaining to the ancient histories of India. From the Gateway of India, your tour will ride a ferry to the island where the Elephanta Caves are found. You will climb 120 steps to the plateau where these caves can be entered. There are seven major excavations in the area, and you'll be able to explore the history behind the artifacts and structures found therein. There is a spacious hall supported by huge pillars, which are characteristic of architecture of the 6th and 7th centuries. A massive three-headed Shiva sculpture stands therein, which is one of the major attractions in the caves. You will be able to explore 3 caves, each with a unique feature: one is a large Hindu Cave, the other is a Buddhist cave, and the final one is a cave dedicated to the God Shiva. You will discover a beautiful cultural heritage site and gain deeper understanding of India's religious history.

Itinerary:
• 9:30am meet up with guide outside Pizza Express restaurant and proceed to Gateway of India
• 10:00am ferry ride on the Arabian sea from Gateway Of India to the Elephanta Caves (duration: 1 hour)
• 11:00am on arrival to the island, walk or take a short toy train from the jetty to where you need to climb 120 steps to the plateau where the caves are located
• 11:30am see the large three-headed Shiva sculpture. Explore the 3 caves - the large Hindu cave, Buddhist cave and the main Shiva cave
• 1:00pm after exploring, the guide will drop you back to the ferry point and see you off from there on the return hour long ferry ride back to Gateway Of India
• 2:15pm tour ends at Gateway Of India

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Included

Guide Services
All taxes, fees and handling charges

Not included

Entrance fees to caves ( Rs.500 per person
Entrance free to caves for Children upto 15 years
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Starting point : Outside Pizza Express Restaurant, Opposite Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Colaba
Time : 9:30 am
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

80%

Cultural

75%

Reviews

5.0

2

e

evan106

5 | 2019-02-01

This was a delightful trip with a native that grew up on Elephanta Island. Not only did Mr. Khan give us a tour of the main caves, he provided information on the boat ride over about the ships and islands on the way. After touring the caves, he invited us to visit his village and home. There are three villages with about 1600 people living on the island. We enjoyed being exposed to the local way of life. We then all shared a meal at a local restaurant before returning across the bay. I highly recommend this tour if you are interested in getting to know the people of India.

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Elephanta Caves 27 Activities

Guided Elephanta Caves Tour

Mumbai

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