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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=August 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox settlement | name = {{Big|घरापुरी बेट}} | other_name = {{Small|Gharapuri Island}} | 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 --> | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_rank = | 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 = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] --> | postal_code = | registration_plate = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Elephanta Island''' (also called '''Gharapuri Island'''<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Elephanta Isle |volume=9 |page=261}}</ref> or ''place 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]]. ==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&nbsp;am and the last at 2&nbsp;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>Elephanta Ropeway has just one more hurdle to clear. Retrieved from https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/civic/elephanta-ropeway-has-just-one-more-hurdle-to-clear/amp_articleshow/68279057.cms</ref> Once built, it will take only 14 minutes to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site whereas currently ferry takes about an hour<ref>Indias longest ropeway ; from Mumbai to Elephanta in 14 minutes:https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/indias-longest-ropeway-over-sea-soon-travel-from-mumbai-to-elephanta-caves-in-just-14-minutes/1673510/</ref>. ==History== Known in ancient times as ''Gharapuri'', 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== {{commons category|Elephanta}} * [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]]'', Feb 22, 2007, pg A14 {{Reflist}} {{Islands of Mumbai harbour}} {{Mumbai metropolitan area}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Geography of Raigad district]] [[Category:Islands of Mumbai]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Raigad district]]'