Elephanta Caves
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Elephanta Caves History| Elephanta Caves Ferry Ride, Rates | Timings of Elephanta Caves | Elephanta Caves UPSC | Elephanta Caves Island Mumbai

Elephanta Caves are Rock-cut Caves and Temples, All dedicated to Hindu Gods, and Few are dedicated to Buddhist Stupas, These are just 10 km away from Mumbai and are located on a small island. You must hire a boat to visit this place.

There are beautiful Carvings of Gods on the walls of rock and also Shiva Lingas and Temples. This site is given UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1987, This place is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

TimeLine is quite unpredicted. But This place has been seeing habitats since 2nd Century BC, This Place is almost similar to Ajantha and Ellora Caves.

Buddhists settled first in Elephanta around 2nd Century BCE and had presence till 4 AD, Later Rashtrakutas Built Hindu Temples in 7th Century by inspiring from Ellora Caves, Many Sites in Elephanta are Hindu Sculptures and Temples related to Trimurthi’s. Few Buddist Stupas are still there but many are lost.

Architecture

These are built on Basalt Rock Area, The Carvings on the basalt rock are simply superb, Trimuthi’s are carved on Rock which is really spectacular and also Pillars are cut from Huge rocks and The Craftsmanship Greatness will be witnessed when you see the interiors and exteriors of Caves.

Elephanta Geography

The island is 2.4 km (1.5 mi) in period with hills that upward thrust to a top of approximately 150 m (490 ft). A slender deep ravine separates the 2 hills and runs from north to south.

On the west, the hill rises lightly from the ocean and stretches east throughout the ravine, and rises step by step to the intense east to a top of 173 m (568 ft).

Forest increase with clusters of mango, tamarind, and karanj timber cowl the hills with scattered palm timber. The foreshore is made from sand and dirt with mangrove timber at the fringe.

Landing quays take a seat down close to 3 small hamlets called Set Bunder withinside the north-west, Mora Bunder withinside the northeast, and Gharapuri or Raj Bunder withinside the south.

Tourism

Elephanta Caves are the Closest and Ancient Cultural Monument in Mumbai, It’s just 10kms away from Mumbai and it is located on an Island.

Almost 2 Million Visitors visited this site back in 2019. There is a ferry ride to reach Elephanta Caves. The Main Advantage of this site is, It is UNESCO World Heritage Site and gets international funding.

UNESCO WHS

UNESCO Granted World Heritage Site Status in 1987, The Main Criteria they granted this because of the Cultural and rich heritage it carries from almost 10 Centuries.

They had been named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – through the colonial Portuguese once they determined elephant statues on it.

They set up a base at the island, and its squaddies broke the sculpture and caves. The foremost cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) turned into a Hindu vicinity of worship till the Portuguese arrived, were upon the island ceased to be a lively vicinity of worship.

The earliest tries to save similar harm to the Caves had been dug out through British India officers in 1909. The monuments had been restored withinside the 1970s. In 1987, the restored Elephanta Caves had been precise a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is presently maintained through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, is set 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the Gateway of India withinside the Mumbai Harbour and much less than 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The island covers approximately 10 km 2 (3.9 sq mi) at the excessive tide and approximately 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi) at low tide. Gharapuri is a small village in the south facet of the island.

The Elephanta Caves is attached through ferry offerings from the Gateway of India, Mumbai between 9 AM – 2 PM daily, besides Monday whilst the Caves are closed. Mumbai has a main home and global airport, in addition to is attached to the Indian Railways.

Travel

You need a Ferry to reach this Place, The Ferry Ticket cost is 150 per person.

From Wonderful Mumbai

Boat Ride Ticket Fare from Gateway Of India to Elephanta, Alibaug

  1. Gateway Of India Short Boat Ride Ticket Fare: Rs 70 is the cost of a short 30-minute boat trip that starts and ends at Gateway Of India (Mumbai).
  2. Gateway Of India to Elephanta Caves Ticket Fare: For a “Luxury” boat the cost of a return ticket is Rs 150 for adults and Rs 100 for Children (age 3 to 7). For an “Economy” boat the cost of a return ticket is Rs 120 for adults and Rs 85 for children. Elephanta Caves are closed on Monday; so there is NO BOAT SERVICE TO ELEPHANTA CAVES ON MONDAY.
  3. Gateway Of India to Alibaug (Mandwa) Ticket Fare: Single (one way) ticket fare for a boat trip from either Gateway Of India to Alibaug or Alibag to Gateway Of India is Rs 110 for the Main Deck of the boat/ferry, Rs 135 for the Upper Deck and Rs 150 for the Air-conditioned Section. The price of the ticket includes a boat ride from Gateway of India to Mandwa Jetty (or vice-versa) and a bus ride from Mandwa to Alibaug (or vice-versa).

Elephanta Caves Today

Most of those caves are in ruins however the few systems that continue to be are sufficient to signify the grandeur of what needs to have as soon as been.

The Great Cave is the maximum intact amongst what stays. It turned into an energetic region of worship for the island’s Hindu citizens properly till the 1500s, while the Portuguese took manage of the island.

The caves suffered a lot of harm under the Portuguese, with its stone sculptures even getting used for goal exercise through soldiers. Regardless, the brilliant 6m excessive Trimurthi sculpture, which functions 3 faces of Lord Shiva survived and stays the spotlight of the caves.

Many factors of the caves’ inner design, which include sculptures and wall carvings, undergo resemblance to the Shiva temple on the Ellora caves.

Another shape that stays particularly intact, in contrast to the opposite dilapidated caves, is the Sitabai Temple, a massive prayer corridor presenting partitions embellished with wealthy and problematic sculptures placed close to the brilliant cave.

Covid 19 Restrictions

As of July 2021, Lock Down is Lifted in some places in India, Also Few places are restricted as per timings, All Monuments / Parks are open up till a certain time. Further updates will be posted, But International Travelers better skip this season for Travel to India.

Timings and Ticket Price

Elephanta Caves are Maintained by Archeological Survey Of India, They Open at 9:30 AM and will be Closed at 5:30 PM.

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