Boat Ride

Date: January 15, 2025

After arriving in Mumbai before sunrise and not being able to check-in online, I decided to visit Gateway of India just as the sun was coming up. I was contemplating whether or not to go back to Pals Hotel to try and check-in but if my room was not ready, I would have to step out again.

So I decided to just finish my sightseeing for the day by going for the Elephanta Caves tour early in the morning itself. The tickets for the tour are sold inside a small complex housing different tour agencies near the Gateway of India itself.

Elephanta caves tour ticket Mumbai — I bought a return ticket for ₹260 ($3/€2.6)

The first ferry sets off from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island (also called Gharapuri) 9AM onwards, and the last ferry leaves Elephanta Island at 5.30pm to return to Gateway of India. Elephanta Caves is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

Gateway of India backside Mumbai India — After purchasing the ticket, you wait near the back side of Gateway of India

Tourists inside Elephanta island boat Mumbai — One by one, boats come to the dock and leave only once enough tourists fill up each the boat

Elephanta Caves tourists boat Mumbai — It took about 30mins for the boat I was assigned to fill up, so the boat did not set off sharp 9AM

Taj Palace hotel Mumbai from Arabian sea — We finally set off, and my boat was the first tour of the day

Mumbai tourist boats India — These are the types of boats used to ferry tourists

One of the popular activities on the Elephant Caves tour begins while on the ferry journey itself.

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Date: 28th March 2015

After enjoying the relaxing walk along Sumida river and capturing the cherry blossom trees in bloom, I was now going to get on a boat to Odaiba — a major shopping and entertainment district in Tokyo Bay.