The journey to the legendary Elephanta caves starts from Gateway of India in Mumbai. It’s a 10 km/ 1 hr, 15 minutes ride on a ferry boats that offers spectacular views of the Mumbai coastline. After disembarking on the island jetty, you have the option of either riding the toy train or walking up ½ km up the hill where the caves are excavated. Souvenir and food stalls fringe the flight of steps that lead up to the rock cut temple. There are also palanquin bearers who offer to carry you up to the summit for a price.

The temple complex covers an area of approximately 60,000 sq ft with Lord Shiva as the presiding deity. Other sculptures like that of the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh) greet the visitors as they step into cave 1. Here you’ll find the finest of Elephanta’s artistic treasures. Different forms of Lord Shiva like the ascetic Shiva, the Dancing Shiva, Shiva with Ganga, Shiva with His consort Parvati adorn the walls of the cave.

Many of the frescos are tucked away in the dark corners illuminated with whatever little light seeps into the cave. The island was earlier known as Gharapuri and later christened as Elephanta by the Portuguese after the stone elephant  that guarded the entrance of the caves.

The exact time period when these caves were excavated is not determined by the historians. The Archeological Survey of India estimates that the temple complex must have been built between the 6^th and 7^th centuries AD which makes it contemporary to Ajanta & Ellora. But unlike the latter where the theme is Buddhist, in Elephanta the sculptures are inspired by Hinduism. Thousands of Artisans chiseled painstakingly for years on the face of a mountain which have now become UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Every year around mid February, the Maharashtra State Tourism Development Corporation holds a two day festival of Classical Indian Dance and Music at Elephanta where leading as well as emerging artists from all over the country showcase their talent. The event starts at 7.30 pm each evening and included in the price of the ticket is the return boat transfer and a buffet vegetarian meal during the interval. Ferries ply from 4.30 to 6.00 pm on both days of the festival.

Best time to Visit: Between November and Mid- March.

How to reach: Take a ferry from Gateway of India in Mumbai