Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksCaverns & Caves
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Elephanta Caves are situated on Elephanta Island about 7 kms from Mumbai’s mainland shore. The caves can be reached by an approx. 1-hour boat ride from Gateway of India.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • glycerine
    83 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    How to get there
    This review is more a how-to guide on how to get to the caves and the charges along the way. First off is the boat ride from the Gate of India which costs INR 260 return for double decker ones which are much more pleasant to ride on than the cheaper alternative. Once you're on the boat, it will cost another INR 10 to sit on the upper deck. A bunch of seagulls will flock around the boat as it departs and you soon understand why as people on the boat start feeding them snacks. Chips will set you back INR 10 for a small pack. When you arrive at the island, you can choose to walk the length of the jetty or take a train ride for INR 20 return. By this time, some local guides would have introduced themselves to you. We randomly went with Chandra Kant, an elderly gentleman who did a good job taking us around. He charged us INR 1000 for the effort, but we happily tipped him more at the end. If you're keen to link up with him, this is his number: +919870473673 When you reach the entrance, you first need to pay another INR 10 as some form of tourist tax. Then there is another INR 600 you need to pay as the entrance ticket. A visit to the toilet will set you back INR 5. I hope this gives you a good idea of the charges involved in visiting the island. Remember that you need cash for all of this. Overall it was a nice day trip and as some reviews have mentioned, the journey there is very much part of the adventure :)
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 14, 2024
  • Rex W
    Perth, Australia64 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Guide for Elephanta Caves
    Avenish (+91) 9869316041 met us on the island as we disembarked the ferry. He was very helpful and knowledgeable in explaining the Elephanta caves. He was pleasant, took fantastic photos and made our experience definitely a memorable one. Would recommend to anyone wanting to know more about the Elephanta caves.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 21, 2024
  • Kate M
    Royal Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom169 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great Trip
    The caves are definitely worth a visit, they are very interesting and were brought alive for us by the guide we hired on the jetty as we landed on the island. His name was Nitin Mali (and contactable on +91 97573 25881) if you would like a guide to meet you on arrival and take you round I would recommend him. He even showed us round his village nearby which was also interesting. He also knows where and how to take the best photos of the caves!! There is one main cave with carvings which is a walk up some steps (which are mostly flanked by stalls selling nik naks). The boat trip over to the island is also a great experience, we went for the top deck where you can feed the sea gulls as they flock round the boat! You can buy boat tickets next to the Gateway to India, so I would recommend doing this trip yourselves, arriving on the island and meet your guide there for a price you are both happy with! A fascinating look back into history at the World Heritage site, and a great day out away from the hustle of Mumbai.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 28, 2024
  • FVB06
    Vence, France2,224 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent but to do before the other caves of Mahareshtra
    Spoiler: to visit BEFORE the others like Kharla, Ellora or Ajanta otherwise risk of disappointment because these three others are... grandiose Second info: take the first boat and avoid the crowds That said: these cellars are not for nothing UNESCO heritage. Very interesting to visit, especially if it is the first winery you visit in Maharashtra, and you only stay in Mumbai. The trip to the island is pleasant. Beautiful view of the bay and the brand new 23 km bridge which connects South Mumbai to the port. The island only experienced the 20th century at the time of UNESCO recognition because before: no electricity and almost medieval life. A little comical train connects the port to the departure of some 135 spread out over more than 500 and which leads to the cellars. So of course the temple merchants are along the way. Like everywhere in India on the sites. Don't forget that it is thanks to this here that it is mainly the fishermen of the island who try to earn a little more. The site is impressive but happily demolished... by the Portuguese. Demolition then perfected by the English. Unfortunately the site was dug into the rock and therefore attempts to demolish a column meant that the ceiling did not collapse. But what remains is admirable: the sculptures in the rocks are of remarkable finesse. You have to take the time to admire the details and imagine the difficulty of digging this in the rock and with the lighting means of the time. The famous representation with three heads is impressive, as is the alignment of the columns
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 29, 2024
  • Piotrek B
    Warsaw, Poland142 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Disappointing
    Elephanta Caves are one of the "must see" places when visiting Mumbai. The thing is that in our view it's overrated. Sure, there are some ancient structures carved in the stone and the boat trip is chilling experience allowing one to escape the hustle of the big city. The island itself is dirty with tons of garbage lying around and seems as if noone was taking care of it. It gets a little better behind the ticketed entry but IMHO entire path from the jetty to the gates are also the part of the experience.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 3, 2024
  • Meghan P
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour!
    Highly recommend this tour. Harish did a great job explaining the caves and monuments. He also made pickup in Mumbai seamless and explained what life was like on the island as a resident himself. We did not tour any local village as the description mentions.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 9, 2024
  • Ravi
    New Delhi, India6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Truly magical; the majestic elephanta caves. Great for weekend hikes!
    This place is simple to reach. But you will be very tired at the end of the day. There are 5 caves in total; with ideals of Shiva. The first one is the largest one and the best one. The thing is that, it's so hard to reach that place even today, but what you see there is master craftsmanship. Just think about it, we don't know who was the architect of this cave, but whoever it was, he achieved this Marvel thousands of years ago. People say that this was a project constructed by the Chola Dynasty and you will get many explanations in this context. I recommend visiting this place in the morning, the afternoons are unbearable for most Western people and Indians of the north. Carry money and minimal baggage. Buy food, water, and juice to refresh yourself. It's a steep climb, so minimal baggage is best. You will get the ferry to reach the Elephanta Caves from Gateway of India, Mumbai. It will cost you 10 Rs. extra to sit on the top floor of the ferry. The whole trip including ticket cost from gateway will cost you Rs. 500 at most. Even if you take the train ride after getting off the ferry. I advise, if you sit on the bottom floor of the ferry and sit in the middle, water splashes around the railings, it may wet your clothes. That's all. Enjoy the majestic caves.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 18, 2024
  • david_omb
    Beau Bassin - Rose Hill67 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Elephanta caves visit _ mixed feelings
    I have mixed feelings for this one. When you get into the first cave, you are amazed by the skills needed to carve the temples and the statues, but then the other caves are just caves, at least to me. I am not easily amazed, and when I am, it does not last long. I would advise doing the main cave and go back to the ship. Now... the stairs are a challenge if you have knee problems and on the way back they get slippery. It is full of monkeys there and if you need refreshments you can buy water around. I would also advise not taking the train especially if it has just reached the Dock upon your arrival. I walked and reached before the train even departed from the Dock. Now rhe most frustrating part is the ferry... it is soooooo slooooww. It gets really frustrating and that for me was a hig issue
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 20, 2024
  • Евгения Гусева
    Moscow, Russia261 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Long and expensive
    I expected more. Be prepared that it will take a long time. An hour on the ferry one way, an hour back. In the caves for about another hour. You will have to go upstairs all the time. It was disappointing that everything was paid. A ferry ticket there, a separate ferry ticket back. Entrance to the park is paid, although 5 rupees. Inside, there is also a fee for certain attractions.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 20, 2024
  • Victoria P
    41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Elephanta caves
    Daivat was an amazing tour guide , very informative, and kept our interest. He was able to tell us a lot about the caves and their story . He was took us around the village . Importantly he was very kind to my mother who took a turn in the heat and made sure she was safe and looked after , and made sure she was seated with a drink and offered to carry her bags . Very good day with a very good guide , thank you Daivat ! 🙏
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles2,072 reviews
Excellent
742
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825
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350
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94
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61

Catharina L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
Very much worth the effort, the caves are truly magnificent. Go on the trip early in the morning to avoid crowds in Mumbai harbor area and crowds on the island. Having a guide adds value since you then get to hear the story behind the statues and learn about the religion as well. I recommend a local guide, born on the island.
Written June 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Antonio2456
Milan, Italy47 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Couples
Getting to the caves is by boat/ferry from the gateway of india. Make it to the edges near the water and you’ll see them. As we later found out there are 2 prices for 2 different boats. 1 price is for the more popular and frequent boats, the other cheaper price is for the “single decker” ferry that goes to the same place, but perhaps not as frequent. These tickets are just for the boat and not for the caves themselves. Once you get there you arrive at the docking bay which is a fair distance from the actual island itself but you can walk it for approx. 30mins or more, or take the small train. We got there at 11am and it was already baking hot, walking was not an option.

Contrary to the tickets we bought online from the india.gov website, looks like they were a bit useless because no one actually checked them. You do also have to pay 10rupees per person as tax for the island – again not included in the ticket. Then there’s the climb to the caves – it’s a good few hundred steps but plenty of stopping spaces and stalls along the way. The top is a good view. If you want a day to walk around etc there’s a good circular walking where I’m sure other reviews/blogs mention how long it takes. We just did caves 1,2 and 4 which had the most detail, things to look at. Security guards are very helpful and took some pics for us too. Be respectful of the place. You can’t sit wherever you like, there are shrines and temples still in use but there are plenty of benches outside and in shade. Plenty of wildlife too around you. Careful of the monkeys if you have snacks on you. Overall good day out, you leave the same way you came and on a clear day it’s a great view of the gate of india.
Written January 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew F
Zurich, Switzerland20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
Travelled over to Elephante island with my family. Was a really nice experience 1 hour ferry ride in both directions and about 2 1/2 hours on the island. Very impressive caves and stone carvings. Well worth the trip. We hired a guide for the trip to help understand and appreciate the importance and meaning behind all the monuments. We found Avanish on this site + 919869316041 and very happy we did. He is an excellent tour guide and made the experience so much better. His family is 2nd generation from the island so it is his own backyard and knows everything. He was also very professional and caring to keep unwanted cameras from the locals who were trying to photograph my daughter. Highly recommend Avanish if you are interested in going to this island
Written December 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

himang p
Brampton, Canada22 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Friends
Awe inspiring monolithic cave structure with exquisite carving of Hindu Gods. This 6th century creation with intricate placing of pillars and geometrically well thought out to align with Sun makes you appreciate the artistry of hand tools, knowledge of astronomy of that period. Even though invaders destroyed the base of pillars, cave did not collapse due to monolithic construction of cave ! Hiring a local guide ($10-$15) is highly recommended to understand the history, methods, reasoning and logic of various stone cut sculptures. Guide also takes ur pics at various points ! Couple of hours are enough and it’s better to take morning ride to have uncrowded space at site.

It’s a little steep hike with 120 steps and humble locals has set up snacks / souvenirs shops around it. The boats are mediocre and ride is slow as it takes an hour one way. Wish they get better and faster boats.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roadbirds
Chicago, IL421 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
Give that this is one of the 3 local world heritage sites we decided to make it a priority when visiting. I did my homework by reading up on the Wikipedia listing. We did not take a tour opting instead for the flexibility and spontenaity of a self guided visit.
Took an Uber to the Gateway to India ( currently surrounded by scaffolding and hoardings) and walked around the back of the gate to the water where a ticket seller took our 290 rp and gave us our ferry tickets (hang on to them you will need them for the return) and boarded our ferry. The ferry does not run to schedule so we had to wait 30+!min for it to fill up and cast off.
The crossing took the better part of an hour water was calm but the hazy day did not afford clear views. At the island the jetty extends for several hundred yards into the bay. On disembarking there is a tiny train that bypasses the long walk to the entrance to the steps. If it is running I suggest taking it. It was being repaired when we arrived so not an option for us. At the base of the steps there is a small entrance fee. The hike up the hill is fairly long and steep in parts but well paved with stone steps. The whole way is lined with trinket stalls an tiny eateries. The local merchants have strung tarps over the whole walkway shading it. The shade is welcome but blocks the water views.
At the top is the official entrance to the caves. Tickets are 600rp for foreigners. The actual caves are splendid especially the principal ones. The distant ones were significantly more deteriorated and only worthwhile if you have lots of time. Each significant carving has a detailed explanation. The views from the top are also worthwhile. Beware the small monkeys looking to shakedown visitors careless enough to be snacking in their presence.
Take your time on the way down and if possible take the train to the end of the jetty we saw the repaired train pull away so walked back in the hot sun. The ferry back leaves when dull and gets you back to the gate.
We then repaired to the nearby Taj for a well earned cold beer and snacks. A good day out but with no fixed schedules you need to stay flexible. Take plenty of water and/or replenish from the island vendors. It is hot and the climb is doable but takes time.
Written January 24, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AMsays
Thornhill, Canada5,255 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Solo
Elephanta Caves on Gharapuri Island is accessible by a 1:15 hr ferry ride from a cloudy, smoky Mumbai harbour. Access the site through a steep hill. You can take guided tours and there’s food and beverage available. Elephanta Caves are home to rock-cut cave temples built between the 5th and 8th C, listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. A train shuttle is available at a cost, but I walked the kilometre uphill to the entrance. There are seven caves, the first 5 Hindu and the last 2 Buddhist, located further away (which were unattainable this day). Main Cave 1 has beautiful, ornate carvings of Lord Shiva in 10 avatars, with the most impressive a 7m Trimurti—a three-faced Shiva in his role of the destroyer, creator and preserver of the universe. Not much to see in caves 2 -5 but climb to the hill to see two large cannons and scenic views of the island. If you have time, visit the neighbouring villages to get an understanding of the culture of the Agri and Koli fishing communities there. I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity even if I didn't get to see everything I wanted to.
Written December 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emma
88 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Friends
We visited the Elephanta caves and one nearby village with our guide Avinash (+91 9869316041) Avinash arranged everything: the pick up from Mumbai, the boat tickets, the train ride and the entry to the caves. Avinash is a local: he is one of the 1200 island inhabitants!
In the caves he told us lots of interesting things about the Hindu god Shiva. Avinash was able to answer every question that we had about the caves and the Indian culture. As the caves were pretty dark, it was really handy that Avinash used a flashlight to highlight interesting aspects of the statues. Furthermore, he made sure we weren’t bothered by rude men who tried to take our photo. A very nice extra is that Avinash had some great photo ideas.
A point of improvement would be the communication with the driver (not Avinash), because he barely spoke English and didn’t know at which boat to drop us off (so walked all around the harbour for 10 minutes in the burning sun). Something else that really bothered us was all the trash on the island. Unfortunately that is often the case in India… Elephanta, even though being UNESCO heritage, is not an exception to this.
Other than that we had a great day and found that Avinash is a friendly guy with a sense of humor. We recommend him as a tourguide!
Written December 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ria1104
Kolkata (Calcutta), India688 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
You will love this place if you love history and ancient architecture. You have to take a boat from Gateway of India. Try to take a seat in the upper deck to enjoy the views (you will be charged extra for the upper deck). It took quite sometime to reach the island. The island itself is beautiful with the green hills, blue sea and the beautiful view of the sea link. There is toy train to take people from the ferry ghat to the entrance. But we enjoyed walking. Numerous shops selling street food are present in the island and one can enjoy some nice dabeli or pav bhaji or others before the steep climb to the caves. The climb is not long but a little steep and in hot weather can be tiring. Numerous shops sold souvenier around the steps and we too got some fridge magnets. After climbing up we got our tickets and entered the beautiful cave complex. We found mainly two main caves with beautiful Buddha, Shiva and Vishnu carved into the walls. Even water was dripping down from some cave ceilings and a cool breeze was prevailing inside (not sure why as outside we could not feel any breeze). The caves felt very soothing and cool and we sat inside for almost 30/40 minutes to relax before returning.

I would highly advise people interested in history and architecture for this half-day trip from Mumbai. But if you find these topics boring then chances are you might not enjoy this trip that much. Also try to visit the place in the cooler months.

We also found numerous malnourished dogs in the island and fed them some food. Would request others to please give them some food whenever you are in the island for a visit.
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Diane Lapworth
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
I hadn't really done a lot of research about this place before we went, more of a last minute trip once we'd arrived in Mumbai. This ended up being my favourite day of our whole trip! The caves were amazing and the statue carvings are incredible! I would highly recommend using a tour guide as there are no explanations or information boards once you go in. We got the ferry from The Gateway of India and were met by Chandrakant at the other side. I wasn't looking for a tour guide, but I immediately got a good vibe from him and took his offer of showing us around. It only cost £14 for both me and my partner and it was worth every penny. He took us through the crowds and past the busy shops, then he enthusiastically explained all the history of the caves. He also helped us jump the queue for buying tickets which was great. After that, he walked us to his village on the island, a really unique experience which was only 10 minutes away. He made us tea and we chatted about all sorts of things! We also met his daughter. Later, he walked us back to the main area and showed us a great place to eat! I cannot recommend this tour enough. A real authentic and once in a lifetime experience. I've even put his number on (with his permission) in case you want to book him too!

Chandrakant
+919870473673

Have fun!
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Voyager50593486161
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Business
Great boat ride over to the elephant island. On landing met a tour guide from the island who was very helpful and kind, helped to understand the island and the carvings as well as the culture of India and the religions. The guide also helped navigate the stalls Avinash +9198969316041 call him before to arrange a tour
Written October 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Elephanta Caves - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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