Discover two of India’s impressive art and architectural wonders on this full-day private tour to the ancient Elephanta Caves and the Prince of Wales Museum. With your private guide, take a ferry from Mumbai to Elephanta Island to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Elephanta Caves, an impressive system of 5th-century caves against the beautiful backdrop of the Arabian Sea. Then, be in awe of India’s rich art history at the Prince of Wales Museum. Your tour includes private transport, round-trip ferry and train rides and a traditional Indian lunch.
Highlights
- Full-day private tour of Mumbai’s Elephanta Caves and the Prince of Wales Museum
- Learn about Indian art and architecture from your expert guide
- Admire the striking rock sculptures of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Elephanta Caves
- Discover an impressive display of India's art, architecture and natural history as you tour the Prince of Wales Museum
- Enjoy a traditional Indian lunch at a popular local restaurant
- Private, knowledgeable guide ensures an illuminating and personalized experience
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Private Art and Architecture Tour: Mumbai Elephanta Caves and Prince of Wales Museum
Useful Information
Prince of Wales Museum
After morning pickup from your Mumbai hotel, you’ll be taken to the Gateway of India to board a ferry for Elephanta Island. On this 1-hour cruise, enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding islands and the sea. Upon docking, board a charming red train for a short ride to the base of the caves. Then, follow your guide on a 30-minute walk up the steps to the entrance of the Elephanta Caves.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of five Hindu and two Buddhist caves. Enter the main cave with your guide and be mesmerized at the immensity and complexity of the structure, with its high ceilings and support beams, columns and pillars. On each wall, see incredibly detailed reliefs and carvings depicting narratives involving the goddess Shiva.
With your guide, explore more hidden caves and admire structures such as the tiger sculpture dedicated to the goddess Vaghesheri, friezes with lion figures and Buddhist stupas (dome-shaped shrines).
Next, have lunch at a popular local restaurant, where you’ll enjoy views of the Arabian Sea as you delight in traditional Indian specialties. Then, hop back on the train to return to the dock, where you’ll board the ferry back to Mumbai.
Upon arrival, head by private vehicle to the Prince of Wales Museum, an early-20th-century museum built to commemorate the then Prince of Wales, George V. Learn about its Indo-Saracenic architectural construction, which features Mughal and Jain elements including an Islamic dome and an interior modeled after an 18th-century wada (a mansion inhabited by the Maratha caste of India from the Indian state of Maharashtra).
Browse an impressive collection of nearly 50,000 Indian art, architecture and natural history artifacts. See Mughal jewelry, Tibetan armors, terracotta figures from the Gupta Empire, a textile gallery dedicated to the goddess Krishna, Buddhist stupas and Mughal and Rajasthani paintings dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries.
At the end of the day, settle comfortably in your private vehicle on the way back to your Mumbai hotel.
