Elephanta Island and Caves: A Guided Adventure
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Hassle-free
Cancellation
5 hours (approx.)
Private Tour
Overview
The tour will start with a breath-taking drive toward the Gateway of India, a Prominent Arch Monument, with the famous Taj Mahal Hotel in the background. From here you will then be transferred onto a ferry to get to the famous Elephanta Caves the ferry journey will take approximately 50 minutes.
Your guide will be giving you interesting and fun facts during the journey and will tell you all about the scenic landmarks you will witness on the way, such as Butchers Island; a historic jetty for oil tankers.
Once the ferry has arrived at Elephanta Island, there will be a small train taking you to the bottom of the Caves hill. Here there are plenty of souvenir stalls, cafes, and restaurants, and the green monkeys are in full view as they wander around trying to find food.
To get to the caves there are approximately 120 steps, which can be taken leisurely, as you are walking up these steps there are plenty of souvenir stands and cafes along the way should you wish to purchase something.
Once at the top your eyes will be opened for a wonderful collection of masterfully sculpted picturesque caves which await your exploration.
Dating back to the fifth century, you will discover the greatest example of Indian rock-cut art and architecture. The sculptures are known for their many forms, dimensions, alignment, execution, and spiritual themes. The first cave you will venture upon is the most prominent sight, with a 23-foot high Sadashiv monument dominating the entrance. The magnificent sculpture represents the three aspects of shiva: Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. All surrounding sculptures in the caves are in their natural setting, which will allow you to appreciate Western India's most historic achievement in the field of rock architecture.
After the guided visit around the Elephanta Caves, your guide will then take you on a short walk to the top of the Island. Cannon Hill is a flourishing setting, ideal for taking those memorable photographs, here we will stop for a few moments to take in the scenery and of course allow you to take plenty of photographs. We will then take a leisurely walk back to the bottom of the Elephanta hill, before preparing to make our way back to the ferry.
Once the ferry has arrived back at the Gateway of India we will meet up with our air-conditioned coach which will take us back to the port.
Along the way, you will enjoy a few more landmarks (this will include Fort, a vibrant business district, and Colaba, Mumbais art center, renowned for high-end boutiques) before being dropped back off at the port with plenty of time before your departure. This is a tour you cannot miss, so make sure you bring your camera to the beautiful sites of Mumbai!
What's Included
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Air Conditioned Transportation
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English speaking guide
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Ferry Transportation to the Elephanta Caves
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Mini train at Elephanta Caves
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Entrance tickets to the Caves
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Bottled water
Considerations
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Food and drinks are not included (except bottled water)
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Bring cash and/or credit card for any additional purchases on the day
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Gratuities/Tips are not included in your tour, if you would like to leave a tip, please bring cash
Special Instructions
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Vehicle transportation to the ferry and return is private
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If you are taking a wheelchair we do not recommend taking excursions in Mumbai as the places we visit are not wheelchair friendly
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Comfortable clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, walking shoes, and a hat
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Participants must be able to step in and out of the vehicle and the boat/ferry and walk uphill and downhill with little or no assistance
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There is about a mile walk to the Elephanta Caves once you have exited the ferry
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Please be aware the green monkeys roam freely and if they think you are holding food, they will take it from you
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup and Dropoff at the Cruise Port Included.
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