Last Updated on: 3rd October 2025, 08:12 am
A trip from hectic Mumbai to the Elephanta Caves feels like entering a vastly different world. But the journey to see these enigmatic Shiva carvings located on a small island to the east of the city is surprisingly easy. Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting the Elephanta Caves as a half-day trip. But first, what exactly are they?
The precise dates of these manmade caves and carvings – which were painstakingly dug and carved out of solid rock – remain a mystery. But experts estimate that they were mostly created throughout the 7th century AD.
The Shiva worshippers here were clearly inspired by the earlier Buddhist caves that can be found at various points in Maharashtra. While visiting the Elephanta Caves should by no means be seen as a substitute for the spectacular Ajanta and Ellora Caves near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, this excursion is nevertheless one of the top things to do during your stay in Mumbai.
As for the name? The island and caves were named after a large stone elephant statue discovered there, though it’s now located in a park in central Mumbai.
Speaking of central Mumbai, you can learn more about where to stay at the end of the article.
The Elephanta Caves Ferry
Conveniently, the Elephanta Caves Ferry departs from right behind one of Mumbai’s most famous landmarks, the Gateway of India. You can find the ticket gate for the ferries outside of the security checkpoint.
Roundtrip tickets cost Rs 260, with the first ferry of the day departing at 9:00, and then every thirty minutes after that. The first return ferry from the island to the city departs at 12:00, with the last one departing at 17:30.
The journey each way lasts about an hour (or less than 20 minutes by private speedboat), and you’ll have the chance to purchase some snacks onboard. Note that the Elephanta Caves are closed on Mondays. so plan your visit for any other day.
Though not related to the Elephanta Caves, the Gateway of India was the only place in Mumbai where I experienced touts (an amazing contrast from the North!). They all seem to be promoting the same package tour around the city, and implore you not to miss a special festival that just happens to be occurring ‘today.’
Once you have your ticket, finding the boarding location can be a bit tricky, as the number for the dock they tell you won’t easily be visible. But you should be able to figure things out by following the crowds.
Ferry seats are first-come, first-serve. I found what I thought would be a good seat by the water, only for other passengers to pose for selfies and create Tik Tok videos nearby for the entire ride.
Once on the island, it’s a bit of a walk to the main site. For those who can’t handle the 1 km walk, you can even take a train for an extra Rs 20 or so. But considering the wait involved, the train might not even save you any time.
Before reaching the main ticket gate, you’ll pass by a plethora of souvenir shops and walk up quite a few steps. You’ll also have to pay a fee of Rs 5, which is nothing more than a local tourist tax.
Just before the main site is the official ticket gate, and foreign adults must pay Rs 600, while Indian nationals pay Rs 40. (Yes, paying more than 10 times what locals pay is the norm in India.)
Fortunately, there is no photography fee for the Elephanta Caves.
The Main Cave
Conveniently, the first cave you’ll encounter past the ticket gate happens to be the Main Cave, so be sure to start there. If you’re hoping to beat the crowds, it would be wise to take the first boat in the morning and walk speedily toward the caves, giving you at least several minutes of alone time.
Below, we’ll be summarizing the main carvings you can expect to see throughout the cave as if explored counterclockwise upon entering.
Fortunately, there’s also ample informational signage in front of most carvings, while you can also buy an informational booklet for Rs 190. Or, you could also consider this reasonably-price private tour.
Nataraj Shiva
Just near the entrance is a carving of Nataraj Shiva’s, or the deity’s form as ‘Lord of the Dance.’ The pose represents the never-ending cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction.
Shiva, of course, is regarded as the God of Destruction by most Hindus. But some Shiva devotees also consider him the Supreme Lord that is in fact behind all three.
Unfortunately, Shiva’s limbs here are largely missing, but he was originally depicted with eight arms,
Watching the celestial dance in the background are Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, various sages, his consort Parvati and his son Ganesha.
Andhakasura-Vadha
Moving on, you’ll encounter a scene known as Andhakasura-Vadha which depicts Shiva’s destruction of the demon king Andhaka.
After the demon tried to abduct Shiva’s consort Parvati, Shiva went in for the attack, but each drop of Andhaka’s blood would spawn a new demon. According to the legend, Shiva solved the problem by creating a goddess known as Chamunda to contain his blood in a skull.
Eventually, Andhaka realized the error of his ways and started praising Shiva, eventually receiving a pardon.
The Shiva Shrine
In the western part of the Main Cave is a Shinva shrine which was painstakingly carved as a single piece. It features four doorways, each of which is guarded by a pair of dvarapala guardians.
In the center of the shrine stands a Shiva linga stone which, even in the present day, locals come to worship during certain festivals. But what is the significance of the Shiva linga?
Symbolically, it represents consciousness ascending upward – not unlike the symbolic intent behind Egyptian obelisks, for example.
Furthermore, lingas (also called lingams) are often placed in round bases called yonis which symbolize the feminine aspect of nature. As such, the two combined represent the dualistic nature of the universe, which in itself reminds the aspirant of the need to transcend duality in order to achieve spiritual bliss.
To the west of the Shiva Shrine is an open-air court with an additional cave. There are supposed to be additional carvings around here, but they seemed to be blocked off at the time of my visit.
The Marriage of Shiva & Parvati
In another corner near the Shiva shrine is a carving depicting the marriage of Shiva and his consort Parvati. Interestingly, Parvati’s position to the right of Shiva here indicates that the marriage has yet to take place.
According to Indian custom, the bride stands to the right of the groom before the wedding, but once married, she’ll stand to the left.
Brahma and Vishnu are seen in attendance in the background, while the sky is occupied by numerous hovering angels.
Mahesh Murti
The Elephanta Caves’ most stunning carvings can be found to the south. Here you’ll find a remarkable Shiva bust that stands 5.4 m high with a depth of 3.2 m.
The main image is known as Mahesh Murti which represents the supreme form of Shiva, and according to Shaivites, the Supreme Godhead.
To the left is the face of destruction, or Bhairava, also referred to as Aghora, which is the face of destruction.
On the right, meanwhile, is Shiva’s feminine form Vamadeva, which helps counteract the fierce Bhairava.
The face to the left is the face of destruction, or Bhairava, also referred to as Aghora. On the right, meanwhile, is Shiva’s feminine form Vamadeva, which helps counteract the fierce Bhairava.
The central face is known as Tatpursha. With the headdress on, the whole head starts to resemble a Shiva linga.
Many experts consider this to be one of ancient India’s very finest carvings.
The central image is surrounded on either side by more incredible scenes.
The panel to the right depicts Shiva and his role in the legend of the Ganga, also known as the Ganges River. According to Hindu mythology, the Ganga in the form of a goddess of the same name was about to descend to earth, but needed something to support her. And Shiva came to receive her, letting the river slide down his matted locks.
Just above Shiva we see the goddess in triple-headed form, while Parvati standing next to him appears somewhat jealous.
To the left is Ardhanarishwar Shiva, which is a half-male, half-female version of Shiva. Again, the symbolism here represents the transcendence of duality. As with the other scenes, Ardhanarishwar Shiva is surrounded by numerous other divinities.
Ravana Shaking Kailas
In one of the western corners of the Main Cave, you’ll encounter a famous mythological tale involving both Shiva and the demon Ravana.
According to the story, while Shiva and Parvati were enjoying some privacy in their abode of Mt. Kailasa, Ravana was passing through the area. But when he was told that he couldn’t proceed, Ravana insulted Shiva and his entire crew.
Ravana was cursed for his disrespect, after which he got so angry that he lifted up the entire mountain, shaking it violently.
Shiva then squashed Ravana by simply putting down his big toe. Ravana, unable to move, figured that the only way to escape would be to sing Shiva’s praises. And he did so continuously for 1,000 years straight. Eventually, Shiva not only released him, but blessed him with a special linga.
If you’ve ever been to Cambodia, you’ll have observed this scene at various temples of Angkor.
The East Court
Just outside of the main cave is a spacious open-air plaza known as the East Court which contains its own cave.
Stepping inside, the main shrine is flanked on either side by two lions. And inside the shrine is a Shiva linga.
In other parts of the cave, meanwhile, are dvarapalas carved to guard the inner sanctum. They both have dwarves on either side of them.
Though badly damaged, numerous other divinities were carved along the walls behind the pillars. But among the best-preserved in Ganesha, the elephant-headed god who’s Shiva’s mythological son.
The Minor Caves
To the east of the Main Cave is a long pathway which takes you to several additional smaller caves. While not nearly as impressive as what we’ve covered above, these minor caves are still worth the effort it takes to explore.
Some of the caves here are quite rough and appear almost unfinished. But the pillars of the second cave are quite refined. Sadly the sculptures within are badly damaged.
For those who’ve found this experience interesting, there are plenty of other caves to check out within the state of Maharashtra, such as the aforementioned Ellora and Ajanta Caves near the city of Aurangabad.
A bit closer to Mumbai, meanwhile, is the city of Nashik, which is home to the excellent Pandav Leni Caves – all Buddhist carvings.
But Mumbai itself is also home to various cave sites. While not nearly as impressive as the Elephanta Caves, seeking them out can be rewarding for urban archaeology enthusiasts. Learn more about the Jogeshwar Caves and the Mahakali Caves in our dedicated guide.
Eventually, the path by the minor caves will take you to one final and especially rough cave that’s largely off-limits. This is a dead end, so you’ll need to return the way you came.
Supposedly, Elephanta Island is home to some additional Buddhist caves, but it’s unclear where they’re located, and neither Google Maps nor OpenStreetMap-based apps like Organic Maps feature any paths or roads that could potentially lead to them.
More Around the Island
All of the caves covered above were part of the ticketed site. But if you’re still feeling adventurous, there are a few additional free things to do around the island.
Note that there is no reception on Elephanta Island, so it would be wise to download Organic Maps or the AllTrails map for Elephanta in advance.
Furthermore, if you plan on making it back to Mumbai on the 12:00 ferry, be sure to keep an eye on the time. Otherwise, you may have to wait until 13:00.
Cannon Hill
Not far from the ticket counter, for example, is an alternate path taking you up to some hills overlooking the island. And it’s also here that you can find some old cannons. Appropriately, the area is known as Cannon Hill.
The walk up is fairly tiring, but should be manageable for most. Just be careful on some of the stairs that are in horrible condition.
As it was an especially hazy day during my visit, the views didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Still, finding the cannons, which were placed here by the British, made for a fun little detour.
Elephanta Lake Garden
Yet another landmark to seek out on the island is the Elephanta Lake Garden, a large reservoir. Frankly speaking, the lake probably isn’t worth missing the 12:00 ferry for.
But it does take you down some especially remote and quiet parts of the island. It can hard to believe that there’s a place this tranquil such a short journey away from central Mumbai!
Additional Info
Mumbai, India’s most populated city, is a massive, sprawling metropolis. But let’s keep it simple. You want to stay in the Colaba district, or in one of the districts just north of it, such as Kala Ghoda, Fort or Churchgate.
Staying in one of these areas will allow you to reach many of Mumbai’s main tourist attractions and notable buildings on foot. With that said, Uber works great in Mumbai compared with other Indian cities.
Colaba is one of Mumbai’s pricier districts, but I found a good deal at a budget hotel called Hotel Amber. It was located south of the more touristy part of Colaba, but there were a plethora of affordable restaurants to choose from in the area.
The staff were very kind and the Wifi worked great. But unfortunately, cleanliness could’ve been a lot better. Sadly, this is an all-too-common problem at hotels in India.
Those on a bigger budget may want to consider a hotel like Bentleys Hotel or Abode Bombay. And those really looking to splurge might want to stay at the Taj Mahal Tower, India’s most iconic hotel.