Boat Ride and Tour To Elephanta Caves

We know that we only have a few precious weekends to get out and explore before the famous monsoon season starts...so we have planned what we want to do and are going to try and knock as many of the "day" trips out as we can. This weekend the Muggles voted to go on the boat ride out to  Elaphanta Caves on Gharapuri Island. 

We caught the boat at the Gateway of India. Thankfully, we did our research and went early. The first boat leaves at 0930h and we wanted to beat the crowds and the heat. It was just under 45 minutes on the boat. It was shaded and breezy so that was good and enjoyable. 

The rocking of the boat put them to sleep! 

It was cool to get some photos of the Gateway of India and the Taj hotel from a different angle as we let the port. 

When we landed on the island we were greeted by all kinds of senses. The first was the sheer amount of people that were crowding along the narrow platform. There were smells of the Aegean sea (dirty water, salt and fish), animals, many different foods and sweaty bodies. Many of them were waiting to ride the small train that takes you to the other end of the docks. We chose to not stand and jostle with all of the people and just want. Luckily, I had packed two umbrellas so that helped with the sun--but the heat and humidity were still a force to recognize. 

You then enter into a small village community that is built along the trail to the caves, they charge you a few rupees to enter (which is odd because that is the ONLY way to go so we did not really have a choice). Both of our Muggles loved that there were goats standing at the gates acting like security guards as we went through. 

It was a HOT climb up stone stairs. They have small vendors selling all kinds of items from toys, souvenirs,  drinks, and food. We stopped a few times to rest and they thought we were stopping to shop! HAHA. At one point we saw a mum monkey and her two little ones. She was eating an ice cream stick that she must have taken from someone. They will come at you if they see you are eating something and they will just take it out of your hands. We had to hide snacks when we were eating because they would come from all over to take it. 

The caves are an UNESCO World Heritage site. They were built in the 8th Century BC. They estimate that they were initial Buddhist temples, but then Hindu. There were carved statues that were HUGE. Some of them were 20-30 feet high! 

It was so nice to stand in the caverns while it was hot. There was a nice breeze and it was shaded. We sat for a while and ate snacks after the long hot hike up the hill. 

The two Shrines to Shiva were special to see. People would still take off their food, come in and worship. Some would leave an offering--food, flowers, and money. 

After another boat ride back to the city, we took a quick tour of some areas that we have never been. It was especially amazing to see all of the old baroque style buildings as we drove. It all goes by so fast and there is so much to see that I wish I could stop and take photos every 5 feet! 

 

This is the train station in Mumbai. It was built during the English rule as a "Gothic Italian" style. It is a very dramatic building. It is now also a UNESCO world heritage site!

SO MANY PEOPLE: