You will be picked up from your hotel early in the morning and taken to the to Gateway of India in an air-conditioned vehicle to board a motorboat to Elephanta Island. The journey takes about an hour. You will be accompanied by a local English-speaking guide on this tour.
Upon reaching the island, disembark and explore the caves which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the main cave which has many sculptures of the Hindu God Shiva in various poses. Don’t miss the famous Trimurti sculpture depicting Shiva with three heads, symbolic of him as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. See the carved panels and the sculptures of various other Gods and Goddeses and listen to your guide tell you more about the history of the caves.
Return to Mumbai.
Then proceed on a sightseeing tour of the city. Some of the attractions you may see are:
• The Gateway of India: An iconic landmark, this arched-yellow basalt gateway was built on the waterfront in 1942 to commemorate King George V’s visit to India. This is a favourite gathering spot for locals and visitors and boat rides start from here.
• Jain Temple: It was built in 1940 and is dedicated to the first Jain tirthankar (teacher).
• Hanging Gardens: Built on top of Malabar Hill, the gardens are picturesque though often quite crowded. You get splendid views of the city and the sea from here.
• Chowpatty: One of the famous beaches of Mumbai. Vendors sell street food here, and it is a popular gathering spot for the people.
• Mani Bhavan: This is the building where Mahatama Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai between 1917-1943. Today it is a museum and you can see a photographic record of Gandhiji’s life here.
• Kamala Nehru Park: A beautiful garden that offers you excellent views of the city.
Later drive past the The Afghan Church and the Secretariat of the Maharashtra Government along the beautiful Marine Drive also called the ‘Queen’s Necklace’ because of its shape.
After this city tour, you will be dropped off to your hotel where the tour ends.