Caves and Temples at Ellora
The finest epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture, Ellora is a World Heritage Site located 30 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India. Revered worldwide for its monumental caves and temples built between the 5th and 10th centuries, Ellora is one of the most sought after historical destination in India. The Caves and Temples at Ellora rank foremost among the Tourist Attractions in Ellora.
Ellora is an archeological site that showcases the finest rock-cut caves and temples in India. Certified as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, Ellora is renowned for marvelous Caves and Temples at Ellora, which were built between the 5th and 10th centuries AD.
Ellora Caves and Temples amount to 34 in number, with all of them being carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. These include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples and monasteries. These Caves and Temples at Ellora are glorious examples of the religious harmony that existed in India during that period. There are 12 Buddhist caves (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu caves (caves 13-29) and 5 Jain caves (caves 30-34) in Ellora.
| Tourist Attractions in Ellora | |
| Caves and Temples at Ellora | |
| Buddhist Caves | Hindu Caves |
| Jain Caves | Kailasa Temple |
The Buddhist Caves, built during the 5th to 7th centuries, were the earliest of the Caves and Temples at Ellora. The Hindu caves were built in the beginning of the 7th century. The most important Hindu cave in Ellora is Cave No. 16 or the Kailasha Temple. Carved out of a single piece of rock, architectural marvel looks like a multi-storied Dravidian temple complex. The Jain caves and Temples in Ellora India reveal important aspects of Jain philosophy and tradition. Although these caves are not as monumental as the other caves in Ellora, they showcase exceptionally intricate art works.
The Caves and Temples at Ellora bring the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only are these unique artistic creations and technological marvels, but, being devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, these monuments aptly illustrate the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.
