Other details with photos can be read here on these posts on Elehanta Caves.

The island of Elephanta caves has high & steep stone steps to reach the first set of caves and at times it is difficult to climb, especially if you are not so young or energetic.
One can avoid climbing them by

A lady selling cucumbers and others snack items at Elephanta caves island on way to main entrance.
There are many of them sitting through the whole day under a makeshift shade. They finish their household work, sit under scorching sun & sell these sundry items to financially support their families.

I thought my previous post would be the last one on Elephanta caves but a question from Sam which he popped up on my other blog made me write this one. The question was “How long does it take for a complete trip of Elephanta caves?”

Well, to be frank.. if you are young and energetic and have no problems climbing up the hill, you can very well cover it in a day.
However, a few things before you start off the expedition.
1. Try to reach the Gateway of India early in …

It is believed that the caves were used as target practice after they constructed a fort and put a flag to ward off pirates. Whatever the cause may be, many of the sculptures have been desecrated. From the Portuguese, the Britishers captured the island and used it for the same purpose.

Canon Hill
As I said earlier, the island consists of two hillocks. Your trip to Elephanta Island would be incomplete without a small climb up to Cannon Hill – aptly named because of the cannons strategically perched on top of the …

Some more pictures from the caves. As always, they are just the way they were clicked.. without any enhancements. You can click them to get enlarged view. And you can also check my webpicasa album for more pictures.

Most of the sculptures were in bad shape.

The closer look of a Shivaling. All the Shivlings are worshiped daily with fresh flowers and one can smell the nice fragrance of incense sticks.

The main sculpture.
Technorati Tags: Mumbai Islands Elephanta Caves Day Trip

Once you step onto the island, the mini train welcomes you. Again, as I always prefer to do; we kept the mini train ride for coming back when we would be tired. So fresh and raring to go, we chose to walk while going, clicking some pictures on the way.
The island is full of tourists and small-shop owners and the fifteen minute trek to the first cave is the noisiest part of the whole trip. Shops on both sides of the steps tempt you to stop and the foreigners are …

Western India is famous for a string of rock-cut temples ranging in date from the 2nd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. Around Mumbai alone one can see several of them including the Buddhist rock-cut temples of Kanheri and Kondivita and the brahminical caves of Elephanta, Mandapeshvar, and Jogeshwari within a radius of 20 kms.
The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, one of the principal tourist attractions of the Mumbai city containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. It …