Elephanta Caves Tickets: Ferry & 3 Ancient Excavations

You climb 120 steps and choose which three caves to explore

You take a one-hour ferry from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, climb 120 steps to the plateau, and explore three caves carved between the 6th and 7th centuries. Your guide shows you the three-headed Shiva sculpture, the massive pillars, and the Hindu, Buddhist, and Shiva-dedicated chambers. Ferry, entry fees, and guide are included. Kids under 15 enter free. The whole outing takes four to five hours from start to return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Gateway of India10m
2. Elephanta Caves1h 30m

Visit Gateway of India and Elephanta Caves

• Start at Gateway of India
• Take 1 hour ferry to Elephanta Island
• Climb 120 steps to cave plateau
• Explore three Elephanta Caves
• See three-headed Shiva sculpture

The experience

The ferry leaves from the Gateway of India (that arch-monument built in the early 1900s), and takes about an hour to cross to Elephanta Island. Once you land, there's a 120-step climb to the plateau where the caves open up. It sounds like work, and it is, but the moment you reach the top and see those massive pillars holding up the main hall, you understand why people have been coming here for over 1,400 years. Your guide walks you through three separate caves: one carved for Hindu worship, one for Buddhist practice, and one dedicated to Shiva. The three-headed Shiva sculpture in the main chamber is the kind of thing you see in photos before you go, and then you stand in front of it and realize the scale, the detail, the age of it all hits differently in person.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Elephanta Caves aren't a quick stop. They're a real excavation into India's religious history, and the guide explains the architecture as you move through each chamber. You'll see the pillars, the carvings, the way the space was engineered centuries before modern tools. Kids under 15 get in free, which is worth knowing if you're traveling with family. The whole experience, from pickup at the starting point outside Pizza Express in Colaba to returning later in the afternoon, runs about four to five hours. The ferry ride itself is part of it. You're on the water, looking back at Mumbai's skyline, and then you're stepping onto an island that feels separate from the city entirely.

Ferry tickets and cave entry are both included, so you're not hunting for a ticket counter or negotiating with vendors once you're there. If you've booked the pickup option, the driver collects you from your hotel and brings you to the starting point, which saves the navigation piece if you're new to Mumbai. The climb to the plateau requires moderate fitness. It's not a casual stroll, but it's not technical climbing either. Wear shoes with grip, bring water, and plan for the heat if you're going in warmer months.

What’s included

• Your day includes ferry tickets to and from Elephanta Island, entrance fees to the UNESCO World Heritage Site caves, and a guide who explains the history and architecture of the three excavations you explore.
• If you select the pickup option, hotel collection and drop-off in Mumbai are included.
• Children under 15 enter the caves at no charge.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English08:45, 09:00, 10:30 and 13:30

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 10 Dec · 08:45, 09:00, 10:30 and 13:30

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 08:45, 09:00, 10:30 and 13:30

AgesAdult (5 to 70 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “outside Pizza express restaurant, near gateway of India”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amaze Mumbai Tour

Is this one for you?Right for travelers interested in India's ancient religious history and archaeology who don't mind a moderate climb. The four- to five-hour duration and ferry ride mean you're out for most of the afternoon. That's what makes time to explore all three caves and understand the site without rushing.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the ferry ride to Elephanta Island?

About one hour each way from the Gateway of India.

What's the physical difficulty level?

Moderate. You climb 120 steps to reach the plateau where the caves are located. Comfortable shoes with grip are recommended.

Are children charged for entry?

Children under 15 enter the caves free. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the ferry ride.

What's included in the tour price?

Ferry tickets, cave entrance fees, and a guide. Hotel pickup is available if you select that option.

Where does the tour start?

Outside Pizza Express Restaurant, opposite the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, in Colaba. If you book pickup, the driver collects you from your hotel.

How many caves will I explore?

Three major caves: one Hindu cave, one Buddhist cave, and one dedicated to Shiva. There are seven excavations in the area total.

What's the main attraction inside the caves?

The three-headed Shiva sculpture in the main hall, supported by massive pillars from the 6th–7th centuries.

How long does the whole tour take?

Around four to five hours, including the ferry ride, climb, and cave exploration.