Is Elephanta Caves open currently?
The Elephanta Caves visiting hours are between 09:30 am and 05:30 pm. The first ferry leaves the Gateway of India jetty at 09:00 am and takes you to the Elephanta Island in about an hour.
Is Elephanta open on Monday?
Elephanta Caves in Mumbai is open throughout the year, except on Mondays. It takes an hour for an Elephanta Caves ferry to reach the island from Mumbai. The first ferry leaves the Gateway of India jetty at 9 AM, and the last one is at 2 PM. And the last ferry, to return to the mainland from Elephanta Island.
What is the time period of Elephanta Caves?
5th to 6th centuries AD
The rock-cut Elephanta Caves were constructed about the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD. The most important among the caves is the great Cave 1, which measures 39 metres from the front entrance to the back. In plan, this cave in the western hill closely resembles Dumar Lena cave at Ellora, in India.
Is Elephanta Caves worth visiting?
So to answer the question: yes, it’s definitely worth it, primarily for Cave 1. The carvings there, even in their damaged state, are exquisite. It was also pleasant, if only for a couple of hours, to escape the constant noise of horns honking that forms the backdrop to life in Mumbai.
Which day Elephanta Caves closed?
It is closed on Mondays and the Elephanta Caves timings are from 9am to 5pm.
Is food allowed in Elephanta Caves?
Elephanta Cave is closed on Monday Tourists feeding these birds fried snacks causes serious damage on the birds’ health and is illegal but the practice continues.
What is special in Elephanta Caves?
The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, mostly in high relief, that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged.
Is Elephanta Caves closed on Monday?
There are ferries from the Gateway of India that takes 1 hour to reach the Elephanta Island by sea. It is closed on Mondays and the Elephanta Caves timings are from 9am to 5pm.
Can I stay in Elephanta Caves?
Overnight stay at Elephanta Caves is not permitted. If you want to rest during daytime, The Maharastra Tourism Department Hotel is a good choice. They also serve food and drinks. If you want to stay overnight, then you have to stay with the locals and that is not advisable.
Who destroyed Elephanta Caves?
The legs and five of the eight arms are broken, attributed to Portuguese vandalism. The smaller broken image Andhaka is seen below Bhairava’s image. Also depicted in his right hand is the symbolic weapon that Shaiva mythology states Shiva used to kill the destructive elephant demon.
Who built Elephanta?
The caves themselves were built much later. Recent studies on their architectural style suggest that they were constructed by King Krishnaraja of the Kalachuri Dynasty in the mid-6th century, and tens of copper coins of King Krishnaraja have been found at Elephanta.
Is outside food allowed in Elephanta Caves?
Who gave the name of Elephanta?
Known in ancient times as Gharapuri (or, ‘place of caves’), the name Elephanta island (Portuguese: ilha do Elefante), was given by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, after seeing a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance.
Who built Elephanta Caves in Mumbai?