>Uruk at 21:31, 3 July 2021

2021-07-03T21:31:15Z

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{{short description|Island of the Mumbai Harbour, India, containing historic caves}}
{{distinguish|Elephant Island|Elephant Jason Island|Elephantine Island|Elephant Island (Vanuatu)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Elephanta Island
| other_name = Gharapuri
| settlement_type = Island Neighbourhood
| image_skyline = India-Elephanta-Trees.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The island as seen from close to the boat landing
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Mumbai
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|18.96|N|72.935|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Raigad district|Raigad]]
| subdivision_type3 = Metro
| subdivision_name3 = [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region|Mumbai]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
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| government_type =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
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}}

'''Elephanta Island''' (also called '''Gharapuri'''<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Elephanta Isle |volume=9 |page=261}}</ref> (literally "the city of caves") or '''Pory Island'''<ref name="lease">{{harvnb|Da Cunha|1993|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=miD5YO05jpUC&printsec=frontcover#PPA96,M1 96]|Ref=ger}}</ref>) is one of a number of islands in [[Mumbai Harbour]], east of [[Mumbai]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kail |first1=Owen C |title=Elephanta, the Island of Mystery |date=1984 |publisher=Taraporevala |url=https://www.google.co.nz/books/edition/Elephanta_the_Island_of_Mystery/ylweAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=elephanta%20island |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

==Tourist attractions and accessibility==
This island is a popular tourist destination because of the island's [[cave]] [[temple]]s, the [[Elephanta Caves]], that have been carved out of rock.

The island is easily accessible by ferry from Mumbai, being about {{convert|10|km}} 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Naik |first1=Yogesh |title=Mumbai-Elephanta Caves ropeway project: Elephanta ropeway has just one more hurdle to clear - Mumbai Mirror |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/civic/elephanta-ropeway-has-just-one-more-hurdle-to-clear/amp_articleshow/68279057.cms |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com |date=6 March 2019}}</ref> Once built, it will take only 14 minutes to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site whereas currently ferry takes about an hour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nag |first1=Devanjana |title=India's longest ropeway over sea! Soon, travel from Mumbai to Elephanta Caves in just 14-minutes |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/indias-longest-ropeway-over-sea-soon-travel-from-mumbai-to-elephanta-caves-in-just-14-minutes/1673510/ |access-date=10 November 2020 |work=The Financial Express |date=12 August 2019}}</ref>

==History==
Known in ancient times as ''Gharapuri'' (or, 'place of caves'), the name ''Elephanta island'' ({{lang-pt|ilha do Elefante}}), was given by 16th-century [[Portugal|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 [[Jijamata Udyaan|Victoria gardens]]<ref name="EB1911"/> and then the Victoria and Albert Museum (now [[Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum]]) in [[Mumbai]], by the [[United Kingdom|British]].<ref>HT Cafe, Mumbai, Monday, 4 June 2007 pg.31 - Article "Lord of the Islands" by Jerry Pinto</ref> 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|Library 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 [[Florence|Florentine]] traveller Antonello might have been.

==Orientation==
The island has an area of {{convert|16|km2|abbr=on}}. It is located at approximately {{coord|18.95|N|72.93|E|}}. The area comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Raigad district]] in [[Maharashtra]].

==Agricultural makeup==
The island is thickly wooded with palm, mango, and tamarind trees.

==Inhabitants==
It has a population of about 1,200. 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. Morabandar has a thick forest. Staying overnight is not permitted for tourists. The first return ferry leaves at 12:30pm and the last at 6:30pm.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
View of Elephanta island jetty.JPG|View of Elephanta island jetty, from [[Elephanta Caves]]
Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img14 Elephanta Caves.jpg| An Elephanta Caves [[relief]]
India-Elephanta-Water.jpg|Boats of fishermen living on the island
Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img12 Elephanta Island ferry.jpg|Elephanta-Mumbai ferry
Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img25 view from Cannon Hill.jpg|View from Cannon Point
Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img26 view from Cannon Hill.jpg|Houses on Elephanta Island
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050810085520/http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/elephanta.htm Elephanta]
* [http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/elephanta.html Elephanta caves]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/244 UNESCO World Heritage Site]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/Goingrsquos-tough-at-Gharapuri/article15402212.ece Going’s tough at Gharapuri]
* Duffer's Guide to Elephanta, ''[[Mid-Day]]'', 22 February 2007, pg A14

{{commons category|Elephanta}}
{{Islands of Mumbai harbour}}
{{Mumbai metropolitan area}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Raigad district]]
[[Category:Islands of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Raigad district]]

Elephanta Island - Revision history

>Uruk at 21:31, 3 July 2021