Trip to Elephanta Caves

Elephanta caves are situated at a distance of about 11 kms from mumbai. The approach is by ferry only and it takes about an hour to reach Elephanta from Gateway of India.The fare is Rs 120 for the whole journey. It is another matter though that you are required to pay Rs 10 for toy train ride ( about 200 meters); Rs 10 as tax ( Rs 250 for foreign tourists); and Rs 5 as some other charge. So the total cost works out to be Rs 145 for the whole trip.

The journey starts from Gateway of India and ferry's are available quite frequently. The ride from Gateway to Elephanta is quite smooth, and the scenery that greets you en route is beautiful. You get to see the skylines of Mumbai and plethora of ships moored on the sea.

Skyline of Mumbai from the boat

The Naval Dock

Once you arrive at the Elephanta Island, you can proceed on foot or on the toy train. The journey is a short one ( about 200 meters), and once you reach the base you are required to climb the stairs to reach the caves. It's a short journey and the path is littered with shops selling myriad things fron a T-shirt, to vada pao, to cold drinks, water bottles, bangles, to work of art. Once you reach the entry you are required to purchase a ticket ( Rs 10 domestic, Rs 250 foreign tourist), and upon entry you are greeted by a make shift museum on the elephanta caves. The museum is nothing to write about- a three room show- just showing some photographs of the elephanta caves and other caves around Mumbai.

Hardly ten meters away from the museum is located the pride of place : Cave number 1. It contains beautiful images of Lord Shiva carved on stone. The whole cave is supposed to have been carved out of a single outcropping and you can't stop marveling at the genius of the carvers. Though battered by time and of course by the Portuguese ( Who used the Hindu Idols as target practice ), what ever is left of the sculptures is bound to take your breadth away.

The five headed Lord Shiva. Only three heads are visible here.

Lord Shiva in one of his many aspects.

The Ardhnarishwar i.e. half man, half women. This is to show the importance of both masculine and feminine aspects of creation. This is a master piece depicting all Gods of hindu mythology.

A Close up of ardhnarishwar

The pillars in the cave are simple but depict hindu Gods. Here it is depicting Lord Ganesha.

Another form of Lord Shiva

The dancing form or Natraja as it is known

The dwarpals ( guards) of the temple

The Shiva linga inside the temple

Lord Ganesha in the adjoining cave (to cave 1)

The whole complex spread over 60,000 square ft is supposed to have been constructed in 600 AD. It is supposed to be the high point of Indian architecture ( under Puleshkin II). It is dedicated to a single deity - Lord Shiva ( the destroyer aspect of the trinity { Brahma- Creator; Vishnu- preserver }). The five faced sculpture of Lord Shiva is supposed to the best specimen of it's kind anywhere in India. You can't help admiring the dedication shown by the sculpturers and their skill in crafting these beautiful images.

However if you building too high a expectation after seeing cave 1, you are bound to be disappointed. Caves 2,3,4 and 5 are no show. They are just barren caves, all remnants of any art being washed out by the hands of time.

Cave 2 or was it cave 3?

Cave 5

So after your trip is over you can proceed to see the two canons installed during the portuegese times. The presence of the canons gives the hill it's name : canon hill. The canons are nothing much to see ( last remnants of the colonial times), but the view of the sea you get from there is worth the trip.

                          

And now the trip is truly over. You have seen everything that there is to see on the island. he last ferry from the island for mumbai leaves at 5:30 pm and one is on time to see the sun set from the ferry while approaching    mumbai. The time of history is over, and present engulfs you as you alight from the ferry, musing about the yesteryears.

Sunset from the ferry

The gateway and the taj are things you recognize from sea.

So was it worth it? Definitely. The art and culture as well as the past of India comes alive there, only you need to have some imagination. Will I go there again sometime soon : probably not!