Places visited: Thane, Gharapuri
Expenses:
Shivneri = Rs. 450
Baggi = Rs. 80
Coolcab from Thane to Gateway = Rs. 600
Photo at Gateway of India = Rs. 60
Boatride to Gharapuri = Rs. 120 per person.
Minitrain = Rs. 10 per person.
Gharapuri entry fee = Rs. 5 per person.
Thane local from VT to Thane = Rs. 9 per person.
Date: 27/3/2009 to 29/3/2009
Purpose: Padva
Persons: Harshal, Juilee, Shreyas, Anagha.
Purpose: Padva
Persons: Harshal, Juilee, Shreyas, Anagha.
27/3/2009:
It was my and Juilee's first Padva. We woke up very early. 
Mi gudhi ubharli ani amhi doghanni pooja keli. Aai had prepared sabudana khichadi. We ate it and ran for catching the bus at Swargate. We got into 10:00 am Shivneri and reached Vandana Thane at 1:00 am. At Juilee's home, we had a very heavy lunch with Basundi.
Mi gudhi ubharli ani amhi doghanni pooja keli. Aai had prepared sabudana khichadi. We ate it and ran for catching the bus at Swargate. We got into 10:00 am Shivneri and reached Vandana Thane at 1:00 am. At Juilee's home, we had a very heavy lunch with Basundi.In the evening, we went to Talavpali ( Masunda Talav ) and enjoyed the 
Baggi ride. Then we had very good bubbly 
Gotisoda with Jaljira. It helped us to digest the heavy lunch. Then we went to Vasant Mama home very near to Talavpali.
Baggi ride. Then we had very good bubbly 
Gotisoda with Jaljira. It helped us to digest the heavy lunch. Then we went to Vasant Mama home very near to Talavpali.28/3/2009
We woke up early and had breakfast of Pohe and left from home at 9:30 am. The coolcab took just 1 hour to reach Gateway of India. At Gateway, we took photos from the photographer over there, with the Taj in background. Then we went into a boat which took us the the Gharapuri caves. Caves are situated on a small mountain wich is surrounded by sea. It take 1 hour to reach their by boatride. There we sat in a minitrain and 
the train dropped us at the foot of the cave. We climbed almost 50 odd and big steps to reach at the top. There were monkeies all over around snatching different items from the visitors.
the train dropped us at the foot of the cave. We climbed almost 50 odd and big steps to reach at the top. There were monkeies all over around snatching different items from the visitors.There are only 5 caves out of which only 1 is complete and the rest four are not complete as the rock was not good for carving.
The Elephanta Caves (Marathi: घारापुरीच्या लेण्या - Caves of Gharapuri) are caves located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India that contain Shaivistic high reliefs in stone of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. The sculptures were created beginning in the late Gupta Empire, or some time after, and at later dates. Elephanta Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.
The original name of this epitome of temple art is Agraharpuri. Agrahar is the necklace or most important neck ornament. THe Agraharpuri slowly became Gharapuri; still retaining the original meaning as the focal point of Gharapuri Island, which was renamed Elephanta Island by the Portuguese and is located in Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists. In recent years, complaints have been made that visitors mistreat this important cultural and historic site. Most of the sculptures here were defaced by the Portuguese, who used the sculptures as target practice in the 17th century. The Portuguese also gave the island its modern name, Elephanta from Gharapuri.
The original name of this epitome of temple art is Agraharpuri. Agrahar is the necklace or most important neck ornament. THe Agraharpuri slowly became Gharapuri; still retaining the original meaning as the focal point of Gharapuri Island, which was renamed Elephanta Island by the Portuguese and is located in Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists. In recent years, complaints have been made that visitors mistreat this important cultural and historic site. Most of the sculptures here were defaced by the Portuguese, who used the sculptures as target practice in the 17th century. The Portuguese also gave the island its modern name, Elephanta from Gharapuri.
The caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings of the 9th through 13th centuries (810–1260). Some of the sculptures of this site are also attributed to the imperial Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (in present day Karnataka), 
the Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva almost akin to the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. This was also the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas. Other Rashtrakuta sculptures here are the reliefs of Nataraja and Sadashiva and the splendid sculptures of Ardhanarishvara.
The rock-cut temple complex cover an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) consisting of a main chamber, 2 lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. The site of these magnificent caves contained beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Śiva.
The caves are hewn from solid rock. The temple complex is said to be the abode of Shiva.
the Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva almost akin to the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. This was also the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas. Other Rashtrakuta sculptures here are the reliefs of Nataraja and Sadashiva and the splendid sculptures of Ardhanarishvara.The rock-cut temple complex cover an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) consisting of a main chamber, 2 lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. The site of these magnificent caves contained beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Śiva.
The caves are hewn from solid rock. The temple complex is said to be the abode of Shiva.After we saw all the caves, we had lunch there itself in on hotel and then returned back to the Gateway of India. The return journey on boat was wonderful. All the stress of the journey went away when cool breez of winds began flowing.
From gateway we went to Rhythm House, the store of music and video CDs.
Then we went to VT, took some photos and then we caught Thane slow local at 6:00 pm and went to Thane.
29/3/2009:
We took Shivneri from Vandana at 8:30 am and arrived at Pune at 12:00 pm.
Notes:
Elephanta caves are closed on Mondays. Entery is FREE on fridays. Open from 09 hours to 17 hours.
Elephanta caves are closed on Mondays. Entery is FREE on fridays. Open from 09 hours to 17 hours.
Expenses:
Shivneri = Rs. 450
Baggi = Rs. 80
Coolcab from Thane to Gateway = Rs. 600
Photo at Gateway of India = Rs. 60
Boatride to Gharapuri = Rs. 120 per person.
Minitrain = Rs. 10 per person.
Gharapuri entry fee = Rs. 5 per person.
Thane local from VT to Thane = Rs. 9 per person.
Shivneri = Rs. 450
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