The GayBombay Picnic to Elephanta Caves on Sunday 4 February 2007! ----------------------------------------------------------
GB Dates History Again - The Elephanta Caves! Two years after visiting Kanheri Caves GB is going to date history again when it takes a stroll way back into 5th Century CE when the Elephanta Caves were carved out. Our very own historian Shailen is down here from Oxford to tell us everything about the caves and make the experience come truly alive. That's not all as, apart from the academic sounding stuff, there's fun too! Some of the short treks around the Elephanta Island offer breathtaking views of Mumbai City and Harbour, Butchers Island, Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Nhava Sheva and the most-guarded Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. But to beat it all is the 45-minute ferry ride across Mumbai Harbour. ---------------------------------------------------------- Schedule: We shall assemble at the Wellington Bunder at Gateway of India at 8:30 am to embark on the 9:00 am ferry. This 45-minute journey across the Mumbai harbour will take us to Elephanta Island. Here a toy train awaits us that shall take us to the foot of the caves. On our return we shall embark on the 5:00 pm ferry to arrive at Gateway by 5:45 pm. Cost: Rs. 350 per head which includes: 1. To and fro ferry charges to Elephanta Island. 2. Gharapuri Village Panchayat Tourist Tax. 3. Archaeological Survey Of India's Entry Charges to the Caves. 4. Toy Train Ride from Jetty to the foot of the caves and back. 5. Veg And Non-Veg Lunch at MTDC's Chalukya Restaurant. 6. Space to chill-out in the afternoon. ---------------------------------------------------------- Registration: To join this outing you need to pre-register your name by paying Rs.350. To register send an email to Jayesh at: events @ gaybombay.org. Or at: de.joy.gb @ gmail.com The last date for registrations is 28 January 2007. Registration closes on Wednesday 31 January 2007. In order to facilitate registration and payment Jayesh will be at Cafe Coffee Day at Dadar (East), next to Pritam Restaurant, on 31 January 2007 between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. ---------------------------------------------------------- Interested participants can choose the following optional walks: 1. Walk to Cave No 6 and 7 which are ruins of Buddhist Stupas and not usually frequented by tourists to the caves. The walk to and back from these caves will take a total of 1 hour. 2. Walk to Cannon Hill. Some of the breathtaking views of Mumbai Harbour, Butchers Island and BARC can be seen from here. It just takes 20 minutes to walk to the hill and return to the base. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dress Code: Any casual wear that you are comfortable in preferably shorts or Bermudas. Avoid tight fitting jeans as they tend to hinder walking; a bit of climbing is involved in the picnic. Things to do: 1. Carry any special medication or food if you need them. 2. Carry binoculars if you are interested. 3. Carry drinking water since you may feel thirsty during the walks. 4. GB, as a support group, has created this comfort/safe space for gays. Many people at the event may be "newbies" (those still coming to terms with their sexuality and/or those who have mustered the courage to come to such an event for the first time). We request you to be sensitive to the comfort levels of others and to behave and dress accordingly. 5. You have to be above the age of 18 to attend this event. ---------------------------------------------------------- Things not to do: 1. Don't litter the caves, its surroundings or the waters leading to the caves. Do not use the cave walls as your canvas to paint or make a carving. 2. No hanky-panky! If anyone violates GB's policy of 'safe non-sexual space' he will be asked to leave the group. ---------------------------------------------------------- About our Guide: Shailen is a faculty member at Oxford. He has to his credit a Doctorate in the Political History of the Deccan 200 BC - 200 AD. Suggested reading and viewing: Visit the following links before we visit the caves. This may also help you understand our Guide better: http://www.indiantemples.com/Maharashtra/elephanta.html http://www.webindia123.com/tourism/monuments/caves/elephanta.htm http://www.boloji.com/photoessays/dv/monuments/dv003.htm http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/faculty/hagen/halle/Elephanta/Elephanta .html http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/elephanta.html http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/elephanta/ele02.html http://www-ccs.cs.umass.edu/cris/bombay1998/elephanta/elephanta.html http://www.tourismofindia.com/hiwhh/elephanta.htm http://www.indiatravelogue.com/leis/heri/heri4.html ---------------------------------------------------------- For further information: www.gaybombay.org. Right of admission reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------
