Elephanta Caves & Island Guided Private Tour
Description
The Elephanta Caves are situated in Western India on Elephanta Island (also called the Island of Gharapuri), which highlights two hillocks isolated by a tight valley. The little island is dabbed with various old archeological remaining parts that are the sole declarations to its rich social past. These archeological remaining parts uncover proof of occupation from as soon as the second century BC. The stone cut Elephanta Caves were built about the mid-fifth to sixth hundreds of years AD. The most significant among the caverns is the incomparable Cave 1, which estimates 39 meters from the front access to the back. In plan, this cavern in the western slope intently looks like Dumar Lena cave at Ellora, in India. The principal body of the cavern, barring the porches on the three open sides and the back passageway, is 27 meters square and is upheld by lines of six sections each. Elephanta Caves are an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. They are located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahārāshtra. The island, located offshore about 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, consists of five Hindu caves and a few Buddhist stupa mounds that date back to the 2nd century BCE, as well as a small group of two Buddhist caves with water tanks.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Airport pickup incurs an additional Rs 700 as vehicle parking charges.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(1,506)
Went to Elephanta Caves and had Manoj as our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. Willing to answer any question we had and help us understand each version of Shiva depicted in the art. Highly recommend this tour.
Manoj was absolutely amazing. He took us around, explained the tour and the caves with so much passion and excitement. Took some amazing photos for us and kept the locals away from us and kept us safe. Absolutely highly recommend 10/10
The guide Manoj who met my family and me on the island was extraordinarily polite and welcoming. He gave us detailed and careful explanations about the temple and the history of the region. Highly recommended! Bravo Manoj! But the guide who met us in town, Armaan, seemed a bit distant and disorganized. We had to remind him of his mission so that everything would go as well as possible!
I Had a very enjoyable trip and I was the only one so it was like a private tour , the guide Rajat was extremely knowledgeable and very kind as he helped me with getting a taxi back to my hotel and waited with me a long time as it was a busy time with all the traffic . Highly recommend Rajat as a guide , thank you 🙏
Manoj did a great job at telling all the history of this cave’s god and other historical data. Very nice!
The experience is very nice. Manoj is fantastic and very great.
Just went through Elephanta Island caves, what an amazing experience. If you’re in Mumbai and have a spare day, I would recommend this one. Our guide Manoj was wonderful with his guidance
We had an outstanding time on this excursion. We had a private speed boat to the island which took only 20 minutes (offered by the same company) instead of the normal 1 hour ferry. Our guide Roger picked us up at the hotel and got us on the boat in Mumbai and off of the boat near the caves. He handed us over to Manoj who gave us a very informed tour of the caves. What made it super special is that with the speed boat, we were there first and had the entire cave to ourselves. Manoj took many photos of us and even taught us something new on our phones for photograpy. I would highly recommend this tour. I almost didn't take it because I thought it would be too hot in the sun on the ferry and cramped in the caves with lots of other travellers. This tour was so opposite of that. We loved it.
We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an outstanding experience on your Elephanta Caves tour! It’s wonderful to know that the private speedboat made the journey quick and comfortable, allowing you to arrive before the crowds and enjoy the caves in a peaceful setting. We’re delighted that Roger ensured a smooth experience from your hotel to the island, and that Manoj’s in-depth knowledge, engaging storytelling, and photography skills made your visit even more memorable. We’re especially glad he helped you capture beautiful memories and even shared some new photography tips! Thank you for highlighting the unique advantages of the private speedboat experience. We’re so pleased that it exceeded your expectations and changed your perception of what the tour would be like. Your thoughtful recommendation means a great deal to us. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Mumbai!
We had a brilliant guided tour with Armaan (tour guide) and Neeraj (driver.) They were very knowlegable and catered to our needs and the tour was above our expectaions. They could answer and recommend places that were of interest to my family. Will definately recommend this tour for all those who are interested to seeing Mumbai in a fun, exciting and safe way.
We’re delighted to hear that you and your family had such a brilliant experience with Armaan and Neeraj. It’s wonderful to know that their knowledge, flexibility, and personalized approach made the tour exceed your expectations. We’re especially pleased that they were able to answer your questions and recommend places that matched your family’s interests, helping make your time in Mumbai both enjoyable and memorable. Thank you for your kind recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and are delighted that you found the tour fun, exciting, and safe. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back for another unforgettable experience in Mumbai!
We had a family tour today with Armaan (guide) and Neeraj (driver). Both of them were excellent, knowledgeable and flexible when we had to change things. We had a tour of most Mumbai locations. Our Caves tour was cancelled due to the ferry not operating because of choppy waters so we opted for a Mumbai lunch and had an excellent lunch with Armaan at Nur Cafe.
We’re delighted to hear that you and your family had such an enjoyable experience with Armaan and Neeraj. It’s wonderful to know that they were knowledgeable, flexible, and ensured you had a memorable day despite the unexpected cancellation of the Elephanta Caves tour due to the weather. We’re glad the alternative itinerary allowed you to explore the highlights of Mumbai and enjoy a delicious lunch at Nur Cafe with Armaan. Creating enjoyable experiences even when plans need to change is something we always strive for. Thank you for your kind words and support. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your family back on your next visit—hopefully for the Elephanta Caves tour as well!
