Elephanta Island (also called Gharapuri[1] (literally "the city of caves") or Pory Island[2]) is one of a number of islands in Mumbai Harbour, east of Mumbai, India.[3]
This island is a popular tourist destination because of the island's cavetemples, the Elephanta Caves, that have been carved out of rock.
The island is easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai, being about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the south east coast of the island city. Boats leave daily from the Gateway of India, taking about an hour each way. The tickets for these can be bought at the Gateway itself. The first ferry leaves at 9 am and the last at 2 pm. From the boat landing stage on the island, a walkway leads to steps that go up to the famous caves.
There is also a narrow-gauge toy train from the boat area on the dock to the base of the steps leading up to the caves (about 600 meters). Along the path, hawkers sell souvenirs like necklaces, anklets, showpieces and keychains. There are also stalls to buy food and drinks. Small monkeys play along the sides of the path, occasionally thieving items from the hawkers, trashcans and tourists.
Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has plans to connect the island from Haji Bunder, Mumbai via Ropeway.[4] Once built, it will take only 14 minutes to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site whereas currently ferry takes about an hour.[5]
Historyedit
Known in ancient times as Gharapuri (or, 'place of caves'), the name Elephanta island, was given by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, after seeing a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance. They decided to take it home but ended up dropping it into the sea because their chains were not strong enough. Later, this sculpture was moved to the Victoria Gardens[1] and then the Victoria and Albert Museum (now Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum) in Mumbai, by the British.[6] This island was once the capital of a powerful local kingdom. In Manuscript F by Leonardo da Vinci (kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France) there is a note in which he says "Map of Elephanta in India which Antonello the haberdasher has." It is unclear who this Florentine traveller Antonello might have been.
The island is thickly wooded with palm, mango, and tamarind trees.
Inhabitantsedit
It has a population of about 1,200 people. The inhabitants are mainly involved in growing rice, fishing and repairing boats. There are two British-era cannons at the top. Quite recently, a small dam has been built so as to hold rainwater but that part of the island is privately owned and not accessible for tourists.
There are a total of three villages: Shentbandar, Morabandar and Rajbandar, of which Rajbandar is the capital. Caves and stalls can be seen in Shentbandar which is the first village accessed by tourists when they arrive on the island. Morabandar is covered with thick forest. Staying overnight after sunset on the island is not permitted for tourists as they are expected to leave before the departure of the last return ferry. The first return ferry leaves at 12:30 p.m. and the last return ferry leaves at 6:30 p.m. The ferry service is closed in the monsoon season for four months due to torrential rains at the sea.
^Da Cunha, J. Gerson (1993). The Origin of Bombay. Asian Educational Services. p. 96. ISBN978-81-206-0815-3.
^Kail, Owen C (1984). Elephanta, the Island of Mystery. Taraporevala. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^Naik, Yogesh (6 March 2019). "Mumbai-Elephanta Caves ropeway project: Elephanta ropeway has just one more hurdle to clear - Mumbai Mirror". mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
^Nag, Devanjana (12 August 2019). "India's longest ropeway over sea! Soon, travel from Mumbai to Elephanta Caves in just 14-minutes". The Financial Express. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
^HT Cafe, Mumbai, Monday, 4 June 2007 pg.31 - Article "Lord of the Islands" by Jerry Pinto
External linksedit
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Elephanta Island.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elephanta.
Elephanta caves
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Going’s tough at Gharapuri
Duffer's Guide to Elephanta, Mid-Day, 22 February 2007, pg A14
January 01, 1970
elephanta, island, confused, with, elephant, island, elephant, jason, island, elephantine, island, elephant, island, vanuatu, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources,. Not to be confused with Elephant Island Elephant Jason Island Elephantine Island or Elephant Island Vanuatu This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Elephanta Island news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Elephanta Island also called Gharapuri 1 literally the city of caves or Pory Island 2 is one of a number of islands in Mumbai Harbour east of Mumbai India 3 Elephanta Island GharapuriIsland NeighbourhoodThe island as seen from close to the boat landingElephanta IslandCoordinates 18 57 36 N 72 56 06 E 18 96 N 72 935 E 18 96 72 935CountryIndiaStateMaharashtraDistrictRaigadMetroMumbaiLanguages OfficialMarathiTime zoneUTC 5 30 IST Contents 1 Tourist attractions and accessibility 2 History 3 Orientation 4 Agricultural makeup 5 Inhabitants 6 Gallery 7 References 8 External linksTourist attractions and accessibility edit nbsp Map of Elephanta Island This island is a popular tourist destination because of the island s cave temples the Elephanta Caves that have been carved out of rock The island is easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai being about 10 kilometres 6 2 mi from the south east coast of the island city Boats leave daily from the Gateway of India taking about an hour each way The tickets for these can be bought at the Gateway itself The first ferry leaves at 9 am and the last at 2 pm From the boat landing stage on the island a walkway leads to steps that go up to the famous caves There is also a narrow gauge toy train from the boat area on the dock to the base of the steps leading up to the caves about 600 meters Along the path hawkers sell souvenirs like necklaces anklets showpieces and keychains There are also stalls to buy food and drinks Small monkeys play along the sides of the path occasionally thieving items from the hawkers trashcans and tourists Mumbai Port Trust MbPT has plans to connect the island from Haji Bunder Mumbai via Ropeway 4 Once built it will take only 14 minutes to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site whereas currently ferry takes about an hour 5 History editKnown in ancient times as Gharapuri or place of caves the name Elephanta island was given by 16th century Portuguese explorers after seeing a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance They decided to take it home but ended up dropping it into the sea because their chains were not strong enough Later this sculpture was moved to the Victoria Gardens 1 and then the Victoria and Albert Museum now Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai by the British 6 This island was once the capital of a powerful local kingdom In Manuscript F by Leonardo da Vinci kept at the Bibliotheque nationale de France there is a note in which he says Map of Elephanta in India which Antonello the haberdasher has It is unclear who this Florentine traveller Antonello might have been Orientation editThe island has an area of 16 km2 6 2 sq mi It is located at approximately 18 57 N 72 56 E 18 95 N 72 93 E 18 95 72 93 The area comes under the jurisdiction of the Raigad district in Maharashtra Agricultural makeup editThe island is thickly wooded with palm mango and tamarind trees Inhabitants editIt has a population of about 1 200 people The inhabitants are mainly involved in growing rice fishing and repairing boats There are two British era cannons at the top Quite recently a small dam has been built so as to hold rainwater but that part of the island is privately owned and not accessible for tourists There are a total of three villages Shentbandar Morabandar and Rajbandar of which Rajbandar is the capital Caves and stalls can be seen in Shentbandar which is the first village accessed by tourists when they arrive on the island Morabandar is covered with thick forest Staying overnight after sunset on the island is not permitted for tourists as they are expected to leave before the departure of the last return ferry The first return ferry leaves at 12 30 p m and the last return ferry leaves at 6 30 p m The ferry service is closed in the monsoon season for four months due to torrential rains at the sea Gallery edit nbsp View of Elephanta island jetty from Elephanta Caves nbsp An Elephanta Caves relief nbsp Boats of fishermen living on the island nbsp Elephanta Mumbai ferry nbsp View from Cannon Point nbsp Houses on Elephanta Island nbsp Cannon at Elephanta Island nbsp Ferry to Elephanta Island nbsp Sea gulls enroute Elephanta Island nbsp Entrance of Cave 1 of Elephanta CavesReferences edit nbsp Islands portal a b Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Elephanta Isle Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 9 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 261 Da Cunha J Gerson 1993 The Origin of Bombay Asian Educational Services p 96 ISBN 978 81 206 0815 3 Kail Owen C 1984 Elephanta the Island of Mystery Taraporevala Retrieved 8 June 2021 Naik Yogesh 6 March 2019 Mumbai Elephanta Caves ropeway project Elephanta ropeway has just one more hurdle to clear Mumbai Mirror mumbaimirror indiatimes com Retrieved 10 November 2020 Nag Devanjana 12 August 2019 India s longest ropeway over sea Soon travel from Mumbai to Elephanta Caves in just 14 minutes The Financial Express Retrieved 10 November 2020 HT Cafe Mumbai Monday 4 June 2007 pg 31 Article Lord of the Islands by Jerry PintoExternal links edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Elephanta Island nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elephanta Elephanta Elephanta caves UNESCO World Heritage Site Going s tough at Gharapuri Duffer s Guide to Elephanta Mid Day 22 February 2007 pg A14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elephanta Island amp oldid 1178088662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
