Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Elephanta Caves in Mumbai
Bengaluru has its fair share of historical places, such as Bangalore Fort, Bangalore Palace, and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. But what it does not have are historical caves with beautiful sculptures and architecture, that too by the ocean. One of the best examples of such caves are the Elephanta Caves in Mumbai. Estimated to be around 1,500 years old, the caves contain rock-cut sculptures and architecture dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are also 2 other caves dedicated to Buddhism. The sculptures are so beautiful and intricate that the locals believe they are not man made.
Even if you do not share the beliefs of the locals, the caves are still spectacular enough that booking a flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai would not be a bad idea. But, before you book your tickets, here are certain things you need to know.
To reach the Elephanta Caves, you can take the ferry from Gate no. 4 of The Gateway of India. The tickets can be bought at the entrance of this historical monument from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corp. (MTDC) stall. The ferry takes one hour to reach the Elephanta Caves island. The charge of the round trip is ₹150. From the harbor, the caves are around 1 km away and you can walk till there. You can also take a toy train. The train ticket costs ₹10.
The main attractions of the Elephanta Caves are:
Cave 1 or the Great Cave is the main attraction of this place. Although it is a Hindu cave, the architecture is similar to a Buddhist Vihara. The cave has a central hall and many pillared cells. The cave has a depth of 39 meters and entrances on all 4 sides. The amazing carvings in this cave showcase Shiva in 10 different avatars. The one that is most impressive is the Trimurti. The 7-meter-tall sculpture shows the 3 faces of Shiva, as the creator, preserver and destroyer. The other impressive carvings are of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara and Gangadhara.
Cave 2 to 5 were severely destroyed over the centuries and restored only in the 1970s. The shrines and sculptures are not in great shape in these caves. But one can still get a look at the traces of some amazing sculptures.
Also known as Sitabai’s temple caves, these are Buddhist caves. These caves have pillars and decorated walls.
Booking your tickets from Bengaluru to Mumbaifor February can be a great idea. During this month, the Elephanta festival is organized by the MTDC. During the festival, several musicians and dancers perform. Also, avoid booking your flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai between June and August. The boat services are suspended during this time. When it comes to timings, the caves remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, except for Mondays.
Elephanta Caves can be crowded. So, going early in the morning can be a great idea. Plus, you beat the heat as well in the morning.
