Everything to know about Elephanta Caves
Introduction
Mumbai is where the Elephanta Caves are situated. A collection of historic stuff located on an island close to Mumbai. They were carved out of solid rock around 15,000 years ago. The cave is home to some incredible, old, and unusual sculptures depicting Hindu gods and legendary figures. The enormous statue of Lord Shiva is the cave’s main draw. The cave has such a spiritual and ancient aura. A massive and enormous sculpture of Lord Shiva with three faces—creation, preservation, and destruction—can be found inside Cave 1, the largest cave within the complex. The cave’s walls are decorated in many carvings that depict incredible Hindu Dharam tales.
Elephanta Cave holds great importance and significance for people who worship and believe in Lord Shiva. “Gharapuri,” which means “city of caves,” is another name for the cave. The cave entrance resembles an elephant, hence the name “Elephanta Caves”. You must take a boat voyage to access the cave. The cave is accessible via a short boat journey from the Gateway of India. The distance between the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Cave is approximately 11 kilometers. The boat cruise is a wonderful experience because you get to see the lovely Arabian Sea. Furthermore, you will learn a lot about Indian ancient history, culture, and religion. It is one of Mumbai’s most recognized tourist attractions.
Table of Contents
History about the Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta caves are exceedingly old. It was created by humans approximately 1500 years ago. The caverns have immense significance for all Hindus, especially those who adore Lord Vishnu. People would go to the cave to pray and meditate in order to feel calm. The cave’s name “Elephanta” originates from Portuguese sailors who believed they spotted an elephant-shaped rock because the cave’s entrance resembled an elephant. UNESCO also reviewed the cave’s authenticity and designated it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the last few years, the cave has attracted a large number of travelers, making it one of the most popular tourist sites in Mumbai.
How to reach Elephanta Caves
Reach to the Mumbai city first: If you live outside of Mumbai and want to explore the cave, you must first travel to Mumbai. First, you must reach Mumbai. Mumbai is one of the most developed cities, with excellent rail, air, and road infrastructure.
Reach to the Gateway of India: The Gateway of India is located in south Mumbai. There are numerous methods to access the Gateway of India, including buses, taxis, and trains. The ferry to the Elephanta Caves departs from the Gateway of India.
Take a ferry: Take a ferry from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves. The ferry normally takes an hour to reach the cave, providing breathtaking views of the Mumbai coastline along the route.
Elephanta caves address: Gharapuri, Maharashtra 400094
Important information about Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Caves ticket price
| Categories | Ticket Price |
| Indian Tourists | INR 40 |
| Childrens under age of 15 | Free |
| SAARC & BIMSTEC | INR 40 |
| Foreigners | INR 600 |
Elephanta Caves opening and closing timings
The Elephanta Caves opening hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The first ferry from Gateway of India is at 9:00 a.m., and after 1 hour of ferry ride, you’ll reach the cave. The last ferry leaves the Gateway of India at 2:00 p.m..
Facts about Elephanta Caves in a glance
Here are some of the most unique and unknown facts about Caves.
- It is also assumed that there are many hidden pathways and rooms inside the cave. These pathways and rooms are still not explored by people. This makes people eager to know what amazing other things the cave holds.
- Some of the parts are designed with so much precision that they let the sun’s rays come through a specific and fixed path at specific times of the year.
- People who don’t understand Hinduism and the importance of this cave have damaged the cave.
- Some recent explorations and discoveries have found some unique ancient structures and sculptures under the water.
Elephanta Cave’s visual appearance
On the very first when you just enter the Cave it will feel like an old historic and mysterious place. The entrance of the cave is impressive yet simple. Inside the it’s a little dark, sunlight comes inside it through holes in the ceiling which give it a more mysterious vibe. The walls of the cave are filled with hand craved sculptures of Hindu God’s. The major attraction of the Cave is it’s Cave I, where a giant and huge three face statue of Lord Shiva is there. The statue is surrounded by more hand craved sculptures that highlights different scenes of very old time and facts about Hinduism. It feels like entering into history in the cave.
Main attractions of the Elephanta Caves
Here are some of the major and main attractions of the cave that you don’t mind missing.
Hand craved huge Shiva statue
The huge, hand curved sculpture of Lord Shiva is one of the major attractions of the cave. The statue of Lord Shiva is surrounded by more hand craved sculptures that directly highlights different scenes of very old time and facts about Hinduism. Many tourists especially visit the cave just to see and experience this sculpture.
Amazing hand craved artworks
The cave is famous for it’s amazing hand craved artworks specially the huge and big Lord Shiva sculpture at the Cave I. The walls of the cave are covered with a lot of cravings of Hindu’s God’s that highlights different scenes of very old time and facts about Hinduism.
Design of the Cave
The cave’s design is also impressive and amazing. The precious way the sculptures are handcrafted is very impressive. The sculpture was craved out of solid rock by the artists of that time. Moreover, the entrance is amazing, huge, and looks like an elephant. This design of the cave shows how talented our ancestors were.
Beauty of the surrounding
Many people make the mistake of just visiting the cave. The cave is surrounded by amazing and beautiful natural surroundings. After exploring the cave, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the surrounding natural beauty.
Amazing things you can do inside the Elephanta Caves in a glance
Here are some of the most amazing things you can do inside the Elephantas Caves in glance.
- Take amazing pictures with your friends or family to remember the experience later.
- Explore all the hand craved sculptures present in the cave.
- Gain your knowledge about Indian history as the sculptures tell stories from the ancient hindu books like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Imagine ancient times and be amazed at how old these sculptures really are.
Is Elephanta Caves Worth visiting?
Definitely, Elephanta Caves are worth visiting. The cave has some of the most amazing and unique handcrafted sculptures and unique artworks that everyone should experience. The cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds great significance in Indian history, and it should be seen and experienced by every Indian once in their lifetime.
Suggestions for visiting Elephanta Caves
- Visit the cave as early as you can as it get closed at 5:30 pm.
- During the summers, always stay hydrated and take a water bottle along with you. If you forget to bring your water bottle, there are many vendors selling water bottles, soft drinks, and snacks.
- Don’t forget to explore the beautiful surrounding of the cave. The cave is surrounded by amazing and beautiful natural surroundings. After exploring the cave, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the surrounding natural beauty.
- Be a little aware and keep a eye on of monkeys.
Who should visit the cave
- According to me, people who are busy in their hectic day-to-day lives and who want to spend a day in a interesting place should visit the cave.
- If you hold a keen interest in nature and Indian history you should visit the cave.
- If you love to click photographs this place is for you.
Best time to visit the cave
During mild winter month of September to February, the garden is most enjoyable to visit.
Nearby attractions from Elephanta Caves
Here are some of the most visited and famous nearby attractions from the Elephanta cave.
- Gateway of India
- Cannon Hill
- Colaba Causeway
- Marine Drive
- Haji Ali Dargah
- Elephanta Island Village
Elephanta Caves images
What is Elephanta Caves?
The cave is a collection of historic stuff located on an island close to Mumbai. They were carved out of solid rock around 15,000 years ago. The cave is home to some incredible, old, and unusual sculptures depicting Hindu gods and legendary figures.
Is there an entrance fee to visit Elephanta Caves?
Yes, there’s a fee to visit the cave; it is Rs. 40 for Indian tourists, SAARC and BIMSTEC, free for children under the age of 15, and Rs. 600 for foreigners.
How old are the Elephanta Caves?
The Elephanta caves are really old; they were carved out of solid rock around 15,000 years ago.
Why are they called the Elephanta Caves?
The cave’s name “Elephanta” originates from Portuguese sailors who believed they spotted an elephant-shaped rock because the cave’s entrance resembled an elephant.
What can i see inside the Elephanta Caves?
Inside the Elephanta Caves, there are so many amazing and interesting handcrafted sculptures of Hindu gods. One of the most popular sculptures inside the cave is the three faced Lord Shiva sculpture.
Official site cilck here
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