Destinations
Visiting Elephanta Island by boat
Ferry or private charter, what the caves are like, and the details that shape the trip.
31 October 2025 · 1 min read
Elephanta lies about six nautical miles off the Gateway of India, and the trip offers a rare view of the Mumbai skyline.
Ferry or private boat
The public ferry is cheapest, taking about an hour each way on a schedule. A private speedboat takes around 25 minutes, on your timing.
What's there
The UNESCO-listed rock-cut caves date from between the 5th and 8th centuries and centre on a large sculpture of Shiva.
- Caves close on Mondays
- Tickets are bought separately at the island
- The climb is around 120 steps with little shade
- A small toy train covers part of the way up from the jetty
As part of a charter
Several Mumbai charters run an Elephanta route with an anchored swim stop, making a full day of it.
