Mumbai's Elephanta Island gets some love

To mark World Tourism Day on September 27, around 200 Mumbaikars turned out to clean up Elephanta Island, whose shores are often strewn with rubbish washed up by the tide.

Roma Singh, regional director of India Tourism, initiated the Elephanta Island Clean-Up Drive, showing some rare love to the only Maharashtrian monument certified by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The island is a popular tourist spot because of the sculptures of Hindu deities in its numerous caves.

The clean-up volunteers were  supported by the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Red Cross Society and the Gram Panchayat.

The aim was to educate Indians on keeping the island environment friendly -- since local tourists are often the worst offenders when it comes to littering.

"We thought of launching this campaign to create awareness about the need for cleanliness in tourist destinations among the residents,” Anahita Tarapore, president, Mumbai Tourist Guide Association told news reporters.