Private Tour: Kanheri Caves, Elephanta Caves Or Karla And Bhaja Caves From Mumbai

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Free Cancellation
  • Duration: 7 Hrs
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    9:00 AM
  • Departure Details :
    Departs from your Mumbai hotel
  • Return Details :
    Returns to original departure point
  • Cancellation Policy :
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

Journey back in time on this private tour from Mumbai to ancient Indian rock-cut caves. You have three cave options to choose from: the Kanheri Caves, the Elephanta Caves or both the Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves. With your knowledgeable private guide, explore one of these cave complexes to discover the early phases of Buddhist architecture, known as the Hinayana phase, and marvel at the incredibly detailed representations of Buddha carved into the rock walls. Your tour includes private air-conditioned transport, a traditional Indian lunch (depending on tour option selected) and entrance fees.
** During the monsoon season between June 15 and September 15, 2014, tours of the Elephanta Caves will be subject to weather conditions permitting. Tour will not operate under rainy conditions or during high tide.

Highlights

  • All entrance fees included
  • All taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included
  • All-inclusive tour
  • Free hotel pickup and drop-off included
  • Informative, friendly and professional guide
  • Led by a local guide
  • Lunch included
  • Private guide for a more personalized experience
  • Step back in time on a history tour
  • Know More about this tour

    In the morning, you will be picked up from your Mumbai hotel by your private guide and taken to the caves of your choice. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of the Indian countryside, including sprawling valleys and quaint villages. In between sightseeing, enjoy a traditional Indian lunch at a popular local restaurant (depending on tour option selected), and at the end of your tour, relax on the private drive back to your hotel.

    Kanheri caves (lunch not included):Duration: 5 hours

    After a 1-hour drive, reach the Kanheri Caves, located deep within the green forests of Sanjay Ghandi National Park, one of Asias major national parks. Dating back from the 1st century BC to the 10th century, these cave systems offer a window into the lifestyle of an ancient Buddhist settlement. As you explore the caves, your guide will point out which areas were meant for living, studying and meditation, and which areas were designed as worship halls. Marvel at the system of canals and cisterns and learn how they provided water to the caves inhabitants.

    Elephanta caves (lunch included):Duration: 6 hours

    In the morning, youll head to the Gateway of india in Mumbai to board a ferry to Elephanta island. This 1-hour cruise will afford you picturesque seaside views. With your guide, explore all seven caves on the island, some of which are so small and hidden that theyre often easily missed. Enter the main cave, an impressive sprawling structure with high ceilings and towering support beams, columns and pillars. On each wall, admire the complex and astoundingly detailed reliefs and carvings depicting narratives of the goddess Shiva.

    Karla Caves and Bhaja Caves (lunch included): Duration: 7 hours

    After a 1.5-hour drive, reach the Bhaja Caves, a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating all the way back to 200 BC! Discover several excavations including ancient viharas (Buddhist monasteries) and chaitya-grihas (Buddhist assemblies or prayer halls), considered to depict the earliest architecture of their kind. Admire the highly decorated facade, which presents a true replica of a 2nd-century wooden structure, and the series of unique reliefs depicting Indian mythology, including stories of the sun god Surya.

    At the Karla Caves, walk up the 500 steps of gradual incline to reach the entrance, where youll stand in awe of the Ekvira Mata Mandir, a temple dedicated to Hindu goddess Ekvira. Marvel at the vastness of its shrines and prayer halls, with their notable arched entrances and vaulted interiors featuring carved animals and images of Buddhist goddesses.

    Inclusions

    Local English-speaking guide

    Hotel pickup and drop-off

    Transport by air-conditioned vehicle

    Lunch (Elephanta Caves and Karla and Bhaja Caves tours only)

    Exclusions

    Gratuities

    Additional Info

    Confirmation will be received at time of booking

    Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

    Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair; comfortable walking shoes are recommended

    During the monsoon period from June 15th to September 15th, the tour of the Elephanta Caves will be subject to favorable weather conditions; if it is raining in Mumbai on the day of the tour or the tide is high, the trip to the Elephanta Caves will be cancelled and you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

    This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    Traveler Reviews

    See all reviews
    • 13-Jun-2018

      The guide was very knowledgeable, not just about the caves but other aspects of Indian history, and he made it all come alive with what was almost a stage performance!
      He was also quite solicitous of our welfare, as it was VERY hot. He made sure we had plenty of sitting and resting in the shade.
      The trip through the National Park was also very interesting.

    • 26-Mar-2018

      We did the Elephanta Caves tour. The caves are impressive and well worth the trip.

    • 30-Nov-2017

      Nitin was an amazing tour guide!!! He was extremely knowledgeable and we learned so much because of him. He also took extra time to point out good photography spots and poses and even took several of our photographs. This extra touch made it even more fun and meaningful. We were extremely happy with his service.

      The caves themselves were a sight to see. We were really glad we went and had a chance to view these detailed carvings from so many years ago.

      Sargum and Jeff

    • 29-Nov-2017

      You must go- it is awesome and not given the attention it deserves. Its an easy day trip from Mumbai and not to be missed. Our guide was a lovely, intelligent and informative young woman.

    • 07-Aug-2017

      I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and my guide made all the difference.

    • 11-Jul-2017

      Good trip and good info.

    • 30-May-2017

      A great time and verry interesting

    • 18-Apr-2017

      Our trip to Kanheri Caves was a definite trip highlight. Our guide provided a wonderful level of knowledge which brought the history of the caves to the fore and added considerably to our experience. Some wonderful examples of carvings on display all set on in a beautiful national park. We spotted deer and monkeys in the park and the views from the top of the granite outcrops back over Mumbai are fabulous.

    • 08-Feb-2017

      We had the elephants caves tour with supersonic tours and with Nitin as a local guide. The tour was a bit strange as we had 3 different guides and there were loads of down times. We have been picked up at the hotel and dropped off by the gate off India where we were handed over to Nitin. The 1 hour boat ride was a bit awkward as we didn't have much communication at all while we saw other guides sharing information. But when we arrived Nitin switched on and we had the most amazing tour all around. You really can tell that he is local and passionate about this place. Nice touch for my wife was that Nitin made copious amount of pictures from us and the carvings. After the tour we had a drink and been dropped off by ourselves on the next boat. So once again a pretty boring 1 hour followed. We have been picked up by a young gentleman forgot his name but had the most amazing moustache who took us to a local restaurant and left us there. It was a bit awkward yet again as we didn't get the foggiest what are we eating and the serving staff wasn't very helpful either o lucky that we don't have any food allergies what could cause problems downside was also that the food was spectacular but as we didn't know what are we eating we couldn't re order it again somewhere else the driver picked us up 40 min later and dropped us by the hotel.

      To be honest if Nitin wouldn't have been so fantastic on the tour I would've score a much lower rating but I cannot take away that we know now everything what worth to know about the caves and have some beautiful pictures to look back at

    • 14-Jan-2017

      Not recommended this one and make sure you have the tour guide name and number. We were supposed to be picked up by the driver for after tour lunch but he was no show. Txt the tour ppl but no response so we gave up waiting. They txt back later but too late. Not heard from them since.

    See all reviews