Ellora caves
Another architectural brilliance of yesteryear, the Ellora Caves are also one of the places to visit near Aurangabad. Located about 29 km from the city center, this chain of caves was built by the Rashtrakuta clan of the Buddhist clan and the Yadav group of Jains. A must-visit UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra, this series of caves represents the perfection and symbol of the pre-historic era of Indian culture. The caves are now given distinct numbers because of the detailed and intricate carvings. Vishwakarma among all these; Cave No. 10, Dashavatar; Cave No. 15, Kailasanath Temple; Cave No. 16, Rameswara; Cave No. 21 and Indrasabha; Cave number 32 is the most prominent and explored of the Ellora Caves. Glimpses of the past, diverse history, architectural splendor and grandeur of this chain of caves make it one of the most popular tourist destinations near Aurangabad.
The entire mountain is sculpted like a murti on the outside, shaped like a Dravidian style temple. Overall 276 feet long, 154 feet wide, this temple is built by cutting a single rock. It is built from top to bottom. To build it, about 40 thousand tons of stone were extracted from the rock. The first part was separated for its construction and later this mountain part was cut from inside and a 90 feet high temple was built. The outside of the temple is full of idols. The palace of this temple was on top of three sides, which were attached to the upper part of the temple. Now this bridge has fallen. In front of the open pavilion are Nandi and huge elephants and pillars. This work is a wonderful example of Indian architectural skills.
At a distance of 28 km from Aurangabad, 98 km from Ajanta Caves, 104 km from Shirdi, 176 km from Nashik, 253 km from Pune and 344 km from Mumbai, Ellora Caves are ancient historical caves located at Verul near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Ellora is the most visited monument of heritage in India and one of the major tourist destinations in Maharashtra.
Locally known as ‘Verul Caves’, these caves were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. Ellora is one of the major places to visit near Aurangabad. The caves at Ellora were carved out of the vertical face of the Charanendri mountain between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Carvings began around 550, around the same time that the Ajanta Caves were abandoned. Kailas Temple (Cave 16), is one of the most remarkable structures that can be visited as part of an Ellora tour package.
The Ellora Caves were built at a time when Buddhism was declining in India and Hinduism was reasserting itself. The Brahmanical movement was particularly powerful under the patronage of the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas, who oversaw much of the work at Ellora – including the magnificent Kailasa temple built in the 8th century. The last period of construction work occurred in the 10th century when the local rulers switched allegiance from Shaivism to the Digambara sect of Jainism.
Ellora Caves is an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples. A slightly less dramatic setting than the caves at Ajanta, but more exquisite sculptures. The cave complex consists of 34 caves carved out of the solid rock of the Charandri ranges. 12 of these caves belong to the Buddhist sect, 17 are Hindu and 5 are Jain caves. Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist monasteries, chaityas and viharas, while caves 13 to 29 are Hindu temples. Caves 30 to 34 are Jain temples dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. The coexistence of structures from three different religions serves as a grand visual representation of the religious tolerance prevalent in India. Ellora Caves can be visited with Aurangabad Holiday Packages.
The Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) is the most remarkable structure of the cave group. Hand-hewn from a single massive rock, it includes an entrance, exhibition area, square, hall, sanctum and a bastion that testifies to the excellence of Dravidian art. Kailasa Temple is one of the architectural It is a wonderful example, with interesting local influences and magnificent sculptures. It is believed to have been started by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (756-773).
Ajantha-Ellora Festival is organized in Aurangabad every year to pay homage to the legendary caves of Ellora, Ajintha and other historical monuments of the region. This grand event is attended by the stalwarts of Indian art and culture. Cultural programs include classical and folk dance, singing and instrumental music. Earlier the site of this festival was the Kailas temple of Ellora Caves; However, it has now been shifted to the Golden Mahal, a historical palace in Aurangabad.
Hotel Kailas, right opposite Ellora Caves, is the only nearby accommodation option. It offers accommodation in cottages and hostels for the budget traveller. Most tourists prefer to stay in Aurangabad and take a day trip to Ellora, 28 km away.
The nearest airport is Aurangabad, 35 km from Ellora Caves. Aurangabad Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Ellora Caves. There are public and private buses from Aurangabad to Ellora Caves. Visitors can also hire a private car from Aurangabad city. Aurangabad is connected to Pune, Mumbai, Shirdi, Nashik, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Goa and Nagpur by bus.
The best time to visit Ellora Caves is between June to February while the peak season is October to January. This is the best time to visit Ellora Caves, as the weather is really pleasant during these months.
- Location: Ellora Cave Road, Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431005
- Time: 6 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee: Starts from INR 40
