A one-hour boat ride from the Gateway of India takes you to some of the greatest sculpture in India. On Elephanta Island, called Gharapuri by the people who live there, a hillside cave temple holds giant carved panels of Shiva, led by the Sadashiva: three calm faces, about 6 metres high, looking out of the dark. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1987, and the easiest great monument to reach from Mumbai.
Before you go
- Elephanta is closed every Monday. No caves, no sightseeing ferries.
- Take a morning ferry. The last boats out to the island leave in the early afternoon, and the last boat back leaves at about 5:30 pm.
- You pay four small tickets, not one: the ferry, an island fee, the optional toy train and the ASI ticket at the caves.
Gharapuri and the stone elephant
The caves were cut into the island’s hill in the mid-5th to 6th centuries; many scholars think the main work was finished by about 550 CE, though the exact date is still argued. When the Portuguese took the island in 1534, they found a large stone elephant near the landing place and named it Ilha Elefante, Elephant Island. Their soldiers also did great damage to the sculptures, which is why so many figures are broken.
The elephant is no longer on the island. In 1864 the British tried to ship it to England, a crane broke, and it shattered. The pieces were reassembled and the elephant now stands in the Jijamata Udyan gardens in Byculla, Mumbai.
The caves
There are seven caves in two groups. Five are Hindu, dedicated to Shiva. Two, on the smaller hill known as Stupa Hill, are Buddhist, with the remains of a brick stupa thought to date from the 2nd century BCE.
Cave 1, the Great Cave, is the reason to come. It runs about 39 metres from the entrance to the back, with rows of pillars and a square linga shrine with four doors. Only this cave is richly carved. Around its walls are huge panels from the Shiva stories:
| Panel | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Sadashiva (Trimurti) | The three-faced Shiva on the back wall, about 6 m high: the masterpiece of the island |
| Gangadhara | Shiva receiving the river Ganga as she descends from the heavens |
| Ardhanarishvara | Shiva as half man, half woman |
| Wedding of Shiva and Parvati | Kalyanasundara, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati |
| Nataraja | Shiva as the lord of dance |
| Yogishvara | Shiva as the lord of yogis, seated in meditation |
| Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa | Ravana trying to lift Shiva’s mountain |
| Andhaka | Shiva slaying the demon Andhaka |
Give Cave 1 an unhurried hour.
Caves 2 to 5 sit in a row beyond Cave 1. They are smaller and plainer. Cave 6 was used as a church during Portuguese rule.
Timings and tickets
- Caves open: about 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Some sources give 9 am.
- Closed: every Monday.
- ASI ticket (as last reported): ₹40 for Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors, ₹600 for foreign visitors.
- Ferry (as last reported): about ₹200 to ₹260 return, depending on the boat. Tickets are sold at the counter at the Gateway of India, first come first served. Expect a queue at weekends.
- On the island: a small island fee (about ₹10) and the toy train (about ₹10 each way).
How to reach Elephanta
- From the Gateway of India, Colaba: ferries every 30 minutes or so from about 9 am. The ride is about an hour across the harbour.
- From Navi Mumbai: ferries also run from Belapur jetty, and these can be booked online.
- Getting to the Gateway: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Churchgate are 2 to 3 km away by taxi or bus.
- On the island: walk 10 to 15 minutes from the jetty, or take the toy train, to the foot of the hill. Then climb about 120 steps, lined with stalls, to the caves.
Tips for the visit
- Carry water and a hat. The steps are short but the harbour sun is strong.
- Watch your bags. Monkeys on the path are bold, especially around food.
- Keep your flash off inside the caves.
- Hire a guide or read up. Each panel is a story, and you will see far more if you know which one.
- Do not touch the sculptures. They have survived 1,500 years and a lot of rough handling.
More caves in the city: caves in Mumbai, including Kanheri. Every cave site in the state: Caves of Maharashtra.