There is also a narrow-gauge toy train from the boat area on the dock to the base of the steps leading up to the caves (about 600 meters).

Small monkeys play along the sides of the path, occasionally thieving items from the hawkers, trashcans and tourists.

This makes them contemporaneous with many of the other Deccan Traps eruptions elsewhere in India, but slightly older than the volcanic rock underlying adjacent mainland parts of Mumbai, which is dated to 62.5 million years ago.

[6] Known in ancient times as Gharapuri (or, 'place of caves'), the name Elephanta island, was given by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, after seeing a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance.

In Manuscript F by Leonardo da Vinci (kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France) there is a note in which he says "Map of Elephanta in India which Antonello the haberdasher has."

Quite recently, a small dam has been built so as to hold rainwater but that part of the island is privately owned and not accessible for tourists.

Staying overnight after sunset on the island is not permitted for tourists as they are expected to leave before the departure of the last return ferry.