Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, Maharashtra

Take a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site

Quick Information

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Best time to visit
Nov - Feb
Ideal Duration
5-6 Days
Visa
On Arrival
Starting from
Rs. 3,000
  • Ideal for families
  • Ideal for friends
  • City Tour

Elephanta Caves in Mumbai

Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples located in Gharapuri or Elephanta Island in Mumbai.

 A Hindu king from the Kalachuri dynasty built the Elephanta Caves. Situated at a distance of 10 km from Gateway of Mumbai, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was declared so in 1987 after the restoration of the caves in the 1970s. The temples are dedicated to Hindu god Shiva, and other than these Hindu caves, there are Buddhist stupas too here, dating back to the 2nd century BCE. It is one of the major attractions in Mumbai and one can take the ferry from Gateway of India to enjoy Elephanta Caves tour Mumbai.

History of Elephanta Caves

The ancient history of Elephanta Caves Island isn’t present in either Hindu or Buddhist records but according to Archaeological Survey of India and UNESCO, the cave temples came into being in the 5th and 6th century. The caves have rock cut stone sculptures but most of the artwork that is left today is damaged to quite an extent. The artwork is inspired by the mythology and ideas of ancient times, predominantly of the 6th century. Take the Elephanta Caves tour and look at this interesting artwork for yourself on your trip to Mumbai.

Earlier known as Gharapuri, the island came to be known as the Elephanta Island later by the Portuguese. They named it so to differentiate it from the other islands near Mumbai as they docked their boats here at the Elephanta Caves island.

Information About Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves comprise of five rock-cut caves located in the Western hill. There is a brick stupa in the Elephanta Caves which is found on the Eastern hill. While Stupa Hill ( two Buddhist mounds) is present in the Eastern hill, there are two more caves which are Cave 6 and Cave 7 which is located close to the already existing five caves of the Western Hill.  

What is the Significance of Trimurti in Elephanta Caves?

Trimurti in Elephanta Caves is seen as the most valuable sculptural asset of the place. It has been described as the masterpiece ever created in the history of Gupta and Chalukya empire. Trimurti is kept at the rear of the cave while it faces the entrance towards the north-south axis. Trimurti is otherwise known as Trimurti Sadashiva or Maheshmurti.

Things to Do at Elephanta Caves

There are a couple of things that one can enjoy on their tour of Elephanta Caves in Mumbai beginning with the ferry ride and continuing to visit the sculpture and Buddhist Stupa.

One can take the ferry from Gateway of India and begin the exciting Elephanta Cave tour. 

Once on the island, visit the two hills with their set of caves, separated by a walkway. 

Cave 1 is also the main cave here and there are a total of 7 caves. 

Witness the rock cut stone sculptures and artwork at the caves. Explore them all on your Mumbai trip. 

Enjoy the views of the Mumbai skyline from the Elephanta Island and take a complete tour of this interesting and historic tourist attraction of Mumbai.

Nearby Attractions to Elephanta Caves

One of the nearby attractions of Elephanta Caves in Mumbai is the Elephanta Island. It has an artificial lake which is used for storing rainwater. The Lake is also known by the name of  “Adiyogi Shiva Elephanta Lake”.

Close to the Elephant Island Lake, there is a garden. Although the garden in Elephanta Caves in Mumbai does not feature extravagant set-ups, the view of the Arabian Sea and Elephanta Cave Complex is absolutely stunning from here. Tourists come here to relax or enjoy a picnic.

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Booking Details: Booking Date: 6th June 2025 Trip Dates: 24th June to 27th June Issue 1: Miscommunication & Change in Agreed Payment Terms At the time of booking, I had a clear discussion with Travel on Ease agent regarding the payment terms. It was mutually agreed that: 30% would be paid upfront as the booking amount. The remaining 70% would be paid on arrival during the trip, in daily installments I made the initial payment of 30% immediately and confirmed the trip based on the above discussion. However, post-booking, the agreed terms were not honored. On 19th June, I unexpectedly received a message from Travel on Ease agent stating that another 40% payment must be made before receiving the booking confirmation vouchers. This was contrary to the initial understanding and raised serious concerns about the reliability of commitments made during booking. Issue 2: Delayed Response and Poor Coordination Between 8th June and 19th June, I followed up multiple times requesting hotel booking confirmations. Despite repeated calls and messages, there were significant delays in communication. On some occasions, calls went unanswered. Eventually, I was told that if I didn’t pay an additional 40% urgently, the hotels mentioned earlier might not be available, and changes could occur without my consent. When I escalated this to Vanshika (Travel Triangle representative), she assured me she would get back to me after discussing it—but I never received a call back. Later, Travel Triangle Advisor contacted me, and I explained the entire situation. Unfortunately, he clearly mentioned that he could not do anything and that I had to follow the agent’s instructions and make payment—despite the earlier commitments made by Travel on Ease agent Issue 3: Lack of Support from Travel Triangle When I raised the matter to Travel On Ease Manager via email, he at least offered a compromise—suggesting that I could pay 20% instead of 40%. Based on his assurance, I paid 20%, taking my total paid amount to i.e., 50% of the trip cost. While I eventually received the vouchers and proceeded with the trip, this entire situation was stressful, unprofessional, and did not reflect the customer-first approach I expected from a platform like Travel Triangle. Key Concerns: Agent Commitment Breach: Travel on Ease agent changed terms after the booking, causing confusion and lack of trust. Pressure Tactics: I was pressurized to make additional payments under the threat of hotel changes or non-confirmation. Inconsistent Communication: Delayed responses, unreturned calls, and mismanagement were recurring issues. Travel Triangle’s Role: Instead of supporting the customer, the Travel Triangle representatives seemed to side with the agent, leaving me with no practical recourse. Final Thoughts: Despite these booking issues, the trip itself went smoothly and was a good experience. However, the booking journey was stressful and could easily discourage customers from trusting Travel Triangle in the future. I am sharing this feedback not just to report an incident but with the hope that: Travel Triangle reviews its agent practices and accountability, Ensures clear and documented communication about payment terms, and Offers more proactive support to customers in case of disputes or miscommunication. I may be just one customer, but I chose Travel Triangle based on its reputation. I hope my experience leads to better practices and safeguards for future customers. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I remain hopeful that such issues can be minimized going forward.

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FAQ's of Mumbai

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It takes around 1 hour to reach the island from Gateway of India via the ferry and it is available every half hour.

The closest local station is Churchgate station from where one can hire a taxi or walk down to Gateway of India. One needs to further take a ferry to the Elephanta island.

It takes a duration of 1 hour to see Elephanta Caves in Mumbai. However, you can spend more time at your own will.

Elephanta Caves remains closed on Mondays. On other days, Elephanta Caves remains open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

A Hindu Kalachuri King built the Elephanta Caves in Mumbai.

There are a total of 7 caves present in the Elephanta Caves. Five of them are located on the western hill while caves 6 and 7 are on the eastern hill.