The Elephanta Caves

The next day I had decided to explore Elephanta Island. Six miles from Mumbai, it is full of caves that are believed to date back to the 8th century. Setting off from the Gateway of India by boat and looking back, I could not help but feel struck by the historical significance of the area. The last British troops to leave India had walked out through the Gateway, before boarding the ships and sailing back. The Gateway would have been the last part of India they saw. Looking back I could not help but wonder what they thought as they left. It was an event that would mark the start of a new era for both the British and for India.

The caves themselves were impressive, hosting a range of icons dedicated to Shiva. I thought I may as well have a guide just so I would know a little bit more about the place I was seeing. Very soon a guide, probably seeing me try to eavesdrop on the guides of other around me, approached me. We agreed a price and I had myself a guide.

He was keen to remind me that the statues were regularly used for target practice by the Portuguese, which was either his favourite fact or the only one he knew as he referred to it a great number of times without a lot else. I decided to politely leave him half way through, realising he actually didn’t know anything more than was written on the signs on the way in to the caves. He told me to ask him questions, and the ones I did ask, such as why this spot was chosen or why certain statues were the way they were, were met with the reply: ‘The caves are very old, how can I know such things.’

I guess sometimes it happens I told myself, not regretting I had tried to get a guide, just enjoying the irony of the one I had ended up with.

The rest of my stay was spent relaxing, eating wonderful food and enjoying the company of those around me.

I had seen so many different worlds in Mumbai, and I had a feeling my next destination would again be a completely different world altogether, as I was off to the beaches of Goa.