Where are the Elephanta Caves?
The Elephanta caves lie on the Elephanta Island in the state of
Maharashtra. The island is located at a distance of 10 km from the Gateway
of India at
Mumbai. Lying in the
vicinity of the large metropolis Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves rope in myriad
of visitors and tourists from far and wide.
How will you gain access?
There are regular launch and ferry services from the
Gatewy of India, Mumbai to take you to
the Elephanta Island, except during the monsoon season. The boat takes mere
15 minutes to reach the Elephanta Island. Mumbai has both international and
domestic airports. The city also has an excellent network of railways.
What are the timings and the entry charges?
The Elephanta Caves are open from 09 hours to 17 hours except Mondays. For
Indians above 12 years, the entry fee is Rs. 5.00 and for the foreign
nationals the fee is US $10.
What does the past say?
The Elephanta cave complex houses a group of beautiful rock-cut temples
dating back to the 5th century CE. The Elephanta was given by the Portuguese
after a statute of an elephant that stood near the landing area of the
island. These group of temple are hewn in dedication to Lord Shiva.
What goes behind the architecture?
The rock-carved temples of Elephanta are very rich in their sculptural
composition. The temples were cut out of rocks to create columns, internal
spaces and images. The entire temple is in the form of a huge sculpture that
is provided with corridors and chambers. The whole temple complex is spread
over an area of 60,000 sq feet. The temple complex consists of a main and
two lateral chambers, courtyards and numerous subsidiary shrines. The temple
has three entrances. The axis of the temple is lined with a 20-pillar hall.
On the western end of the hall is enshrined a
Shivalingam. At the end of the north-south axis is carved the
Sadasiva manifestation of Lord Shiva. This colossal 20-feet high image of
Shiva is known as Trimurthy meaning three-headed idol. There are gigantic
sculptured images of Kalyanasundara, Gangadhara, Ardhanariswara and Uma
Maheswara on the southern wall.
What are the nearby attractions?
» Juhu Beach
The Juhu Beach is located 18 km north of the city centre. It is located on
the shores of the Arabian Sea and attracts tourists and picnickers in huge
number both from India and abroad. Numerous food stalls, selling the very
popular Bhelpuri, line the beach. It makes a fabulous jogging ground for the
locals.
» Gateway of India
The Gateway of India lies at a distance of 10 km from the Elephanta Island.
The gigantic archway is built in yellow basalt and is a creation of designer
George Wittet's mind. It was erected to commemorate the visit of King George
V and Queen Mary to the city of Mumbai.
Which are the nearby hotels?
Accommodation
is no big issue as the city of Mumbai lies in the vicinity. There are
accommodations available ranging form 5-star deluxe to low-budget hotels.
The Tajmahal(32 km from airport), the Resort(21 km from airport), Hotel
President(30 km from airport) and the Oberoi Tower(23 km from airport) are a
few of the 5-star deluxe hotels. Sun N Sand(a 10-minute drive from airport),
Sea Princess(8 km from airport) and Le Royal Meridien( very close to the
airport) are the popular 5-star hotels. The budget hotels include names like
Hotel Heritage, the Residency, Hotel Grand and Hotel Midland.
Where should you shop?
Shopping in Mumbai can prove to be a lifetime experience. There are a
number of market complexes and shopping malls all over the city. The Chor
Bazar, the Mutton Street and the Zaveri Bazar are among the popular shopping
zones. At Chor Bazar, one can find items ranging from antiques and jewellery
to wooden articles and leather goods. Crawford market is very popular for
flowers, fruit, meat and fish.
