Mumbai Travel - India

Being the capital of the state Maharashtra, Mumbai is considered as the most international city of India. The name Mumbai derived from the local deity Mumba Devi. A major tourist hub in India and thousands of tourists travel to Mumbai from all over the world, yearly. Mumbai is mainly a cluster of seven islands. In earlier days it considered as the gateway to this enthralling subcontinent. Present India's this very commercial capital is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures. Because of the vibrancy of the city and the places to see, Mumbai is most sought after travel destination.

Tourist Attractions in Mumbai
» Gateway of India : The Gateway of India was constructed to memorialize the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.

» Haji Ali Mosque : The majestic whitewashed Haji Ali Mosque was built in the honour of the Muslim saint Haji Ali.

» Siddhi Vinayak Temple : The Siddhi Vinayak temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the god of good fortune. This temple is one of the oldest temples of Mumbai.

Getting There
By Air : Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, placed 30 km north of the city centre, is one of the busiest airports in India. Domestic fliers can catch flights from the Santa Cruz airport.

By Rail : Trains from northern part of India arrive at Western Railway Terminus (Bombay Central). Nations capital Delhi is connected with Mumbai by the trains like Rajdhani Express, Sampark Kranti Express etc.

By Bus : National Highways No 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 connect Mumbai with rest of the country. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) operates intercity bus service.

Elephanta Caves, Mumbai

Location
Located on a small island called Elephanta, Elephanta caves are 10kms away from the Gateway of India.


Overview
Formerly known as the Gharapuri, Elephanta Island is famous for its caves which feature some exquisitely carved rock temples that date back to 6th century A.D. In the year 1987, Elephanta Caves were nominated as a World Heritage Site.


Architecture and Attractions
The caves temples are spread over an area of 60,000 square feet, feature several shrines, courtyards, halls, porticos, etc. The main cave is supported by 26 pillars. In this cave Lord Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer and should not be missed. Apart from this, other two major caves include
» Trimurti Cave : The cave houses different murals of the three headed idol Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha.

» Mahesa murti Cave : This 27 m square cave supported by rows of six columns each. The cave features interesting figures of Dwarapalak or doorkeepers.

How to Reach
You can reach Elephanta Caves very easily and comfortably by taking Motorboats ride from Apollo Bander near the Gateway of India in Mumbai. It takes just 15 minutes to reach the Elephanta Island.