Stunning Ellora
The three shrines.
One is better but unity is at the best
You may completely visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves in one day but what point of such rushing? The caves of Ellora are one of the famous monolithic rock excavations in the world. The caves are a magnificent example of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monasteries and temples.
Front gate of kailasa temple cave 16
34 caves are dedicated to different beliefs and used for various purposes. A world heritage site that shares the idea and creative and common goal of the different dynasties and their hard work. These Ellora caves are under the control and protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Let’s start from the start.
They are visioners, artists, and masters.
They all are visioners, who dreamed of such an amazing structure? And who worked for the reality of such dreams? They have a common goal, to serve the people, travelers, and monks. They built this place to rest in the journey and spread the message of religious harmony.
The 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindus, and 5 Jain caves, they all are constructed side by side without any problems. In ancient times, the place is called Elapura and the oldest reference is found in the Baroda inscriptions of 12 CE. The western ghats give us many hills that host many wonders, the Charanandri Hills of the same are used this time.
World heritage site
The Ellora caves along with Ajanta, are preserved and categorized under the cultural masterpiece of the world heritage criteria in 1983. The classification and selections of Ellora monuments meet the criteria: (i)(iii)(vi).
The monuments represent a masterpiece of human creative genius and bear a unique and least exceptional testimony to cultural traditions. It also gives a glimpse of the civilization which has disappeared living on their footprints to make them immortal. The sites are also directly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas and with belief, with artistic and literary work of outstanding universal significance.
How have you not visited yet?
A single place with too many colors.
Every traveler once in the time planned to visit Ellora along with Ajanta and they visited it. In Ellora, you will witness the enormous monolithic temple larger than anything else is crafted with a single rock, if you don't believe it? Well, they just did it with a hammer and chisel.
Pathway in the Ellora
The Buddhist caves are one who gives us the oldest proof of the practice of Vajrayana school in central and south Indian territory. The Hindu caves which are prominently offered to the lord shiva aka Mahadeva also give us a glimpse of Lord Vishnu Dashavatars. The Jain caves show their sculpture dedicated to the king of the gods, Indra who is the king of the first Jain heaven Saudharmakalpa.
You might know the most famous inscription from Ellora is by Rashtrakuta Dantidurga (753-757 CE) on the back wall of the front mandapa of cave 15 to reference the prayer offering. You can also see the inscriptions in the Jain cave 33 and the Parshvanath Temples. The king Krishna 1, uncle of king Dantidurga and successor gives full records of his building Kailasa on a copper plate inscription found in Baroda, Gujarat.
You are really going to enjoy it.
The Buddhist monuments
It is earlier believed that Buddhist caves are built earliest of the Ellora; eventually, the idea is shuttered. The caves were constructed in the time periods of 600 CE to 700 CE well it is considered. You can find that the first caves carved out of the rock is cave no 6 then 5, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 9, 11, and last 12. Caves are patronage by the Chalukyas dynasty of the Deccan.
The caves are used as the dormitories for the travelers and monks, the caves also include the kitchens and garners. you might have a question that the little cells in the rocks are truly used for nights. The caves 5, 10, 11, and 12 resemble the other Buddhist caves systems. For example cave 5 is similar in construction with cave 11 of the Kanheri caves of Mumbai regions. Cave 11 and 12 have multi-stories and give us large idols and mandalas of bodhisattva and goddesses from Vajrayana Buddhism which is quite unique.
Vishvakarma cave
You find that only one cave is Chaitya Griha while others are viharas i.e. monasteries. Cave 10 is known by the name Vishkarma cave, this is the most magnificent. It is referred to as the Carpenter’s cave. If you look at the ceiling the carvings are given shapes with wood structure.
Buddhist Cave in Ellora
The cave shows a similar pattern like cave 19 and cave 26 of Ajanta caves. A 15-foot buddha’s statue in a preaching pose is the main attraction that attracts you more. The chaitya is decorated with the large bodhi tree giving buddhas his formal place for teaching. You also notice the many idols which show Buddhist belief and their deities.
The Hindu Monuments
The Hindu caves are constructed by the two main royal families. The Kalachuri dynasty worked in two-phase. The first phase of construction of 9 caves is calculated from the mid of the 6th CE to the end to the 8th CE. The chronological excavation of the caves is 28, 28, 19, 29, 11, 20, 26, 17, and 28. The Rashtrakuta dynasty work is dated in the 8th CE to 10 CE. the kind Krishna 1 commissioned the work of the caves 14,15, and 16.
Dhumar Lena
The Dhumar Lena is one of the earliest caves carved in the Ellora monuments. You can clearly see that the cave is dedicated to the god Shiva. The cave is constructed around the natural waterfall called Vale Ganga which signifies the Ganga falling over great shiva’s brow.
The Kailasa temple
You can make the list for the wonders of India, no doubt the Kailasa temple will have its rank in top places. The temple is dedicated to the mightiest god lord shiva and named after his home mount Kailasa. The temple is multi stored and has numerous shines of the other gods too. Every single god that is in Hindu mythology has its place in the Kailasa temple.
Aerial view of Kailasa Temple
It is estimated that approximately 200000 tonnes of rocks had been excavated to construct the temple. You can identify the elements of the Pallava architecture in the Kailasa temple. In The temple, you can notice the gopuram, the Nandi, and the main mandapa with Dravidian shikhara. The most interesting feature is the idol of lord Ravana, trying to lift Mount Kailasa to impress the lord shiva.
The Jain monuments
When you visit the Jain caves you are going to find the very unique idols. The five caves, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. are grouped as the Jain. You can notice that the cave’s ideology and iconography show that the monuments belong to the Digambara sect of Jainism. The Jain caves are patronage by the kings of the Yadava dynasty.
The caves feature highly detailed carvings and share architectural and devotional ideas of Jain. The caves prominently show the twenty-four Jinas who are spiritual conquerors and have attained liberation from the endless cycles of rebirths. In the caves, you can see the concept of the universe through Jain Mythology.
Chotta Kailasa and Indra Sabha
The cave 30 is named as a similar plan with the Kailasa temple. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Indra as reminiscent of the lord shiva in other temples. The caves truly give the understanding of the Jain mythology and help us to understand the Samavasarana doctrine in Jainism.
Jain Cave in Ellora
The two-storey cave in the monolith is referred to as the Indra Sabha, as Jainism believes the Indra is one of the 64 deities who reign over the heavens and the Indra as the kind first Jain heaven Saudharmakalpa.
Harmony
The Deccan peninsula was always subjected to violence between the dynasty in late 13the CE which also made a grave impact on Ellora. The iconoclasm by Muslim armies causes devastation of the graphic, anthropomorphic imagery of Hindu and Buddhist shrines. The Muslim historians of Islamic sultanate periods have these records.
View from cave 29 of Ellora
On my visit, I met people from every religion. I met Hindus, I met Buddhist. I met Jains, I met Christians, I met Sikhs, even I met once communists. They all seem to enjoy the caves and the past never bothers them anymore. I met Salim’s family, talked with them and they told me the most interesting story. Salim told me that his father brings him here as the rewards if he wins in any competition he enters and they allow him to draw the painting of caves.
Salim is now working as the graphic designer for the MNC, and he is very grateful to the ancestor to create this monolith. He is also hopeful that the caves will also inspire the young one to think beyond the impossible
So if you meet someone like Salim, who’s life is changed by Ellora please tell me. I will also love to talk with them.
Planning trip
If you are a history lover and photography is your passion then Ellora caves can get the most promising photos in this monolithic structure. so you should hurry.
The caves are located in the Aurangabad district of the Maharashtra state. The Aurangabad city is well connected with Indian railway networks and also hosts an air runway so it is easy to land here. Ellora is located 27 km, say 45 min of the journey from Aurangabad.
Small activity for kids with large benefits
Count the columns of the Vishwakarma caves.
Count the ribs of the roof of Vishwakarma caves.
Count the total Shivling in the Ellora.
Count the idol of Vishnu, Indra
Identify the Ardhanarishvara and the Harihara
Identify the 12 episodes of the childhood of Krishna.
Find the idol of death of Hiranyakashipu
Find the images of Samavasarana
Count the idols of Parshvanatha and Bahubali.
Find the inscriptions in the Ellora caves
Charges
INR 35 for Indians, SAARC and BIMSTEC countries.
INR 550 for other Foreign countries.
The entry is free for kids under the age of 15.
Notes
A week off: Tuesday closed.
Visiting hours: 09.00 AM to 05.00 PM.
The nearest bus stand: Ellora Cave Bus Stop and Aurangabad.
Nearest railways station: Aurangabad railway station and Daulatabad railway station.
The nearest airport: Aurangabad Airport, a domestic airport.
No climbing on the statues.
No footwear in the holy place.
No alcohol or tobacco permitted on the premises of the caves.
No scratching and touching to the painting.
Short trips plan for Aurangabad
Day 1
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Ellora Caves, and Aurangazeb’s tomb
Mhaismal, Daulatabad Fort and Chand Minar, Bhadra Maruti Temple
Day 2
Aurangabad Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Siddharth Garden, Chatrapati Shivaji Museum
Goga Baba Hill, Panchakki, Sunheri Mahal
Day 3
Ajanta Caves
Best time to visit
Anytime between October to February will be the best time you can enjoy the Ellora caves.
Ellora Ajanta festival is another event you should visit.
Caves you should visit
Cave 5:resembles with cave 11 of Kanheri Caves
Cave 11 and cave: three-storied Mahayana monastery caves
Cave 10: The Vishvakarma cave
Cave 29: Dhumar Lena
Cave 21: Rameshwar Lena (wedding of god shiva and goddess Parvati)
Cave 16: Kailasa temple (single rock monolithic temple)
Cave 15: Dashavatara cave
Cave 14: Ravan ki Khai.
Cave 32: Indra Sabha
The idol of the lord Parashvanath.
Buddhist caves are on the southmost, in the middle Hindu caves and northern caves are Jains. You better start with Buddhist monuments which can be completed quickly and then Hindu caves and later Jain caves.
Hospitality
Aurangabad city hosts many hotels and lodges as per your requirements. Running with five-star multi-specialty hotels as well as with the local lodge that charges an average of 500 INR per night.
The taxi and other vehicles are easily available for the day tour and for the whole trip also. The vehicle choice is also plenty like ac, non-ac, small van, school bus. Public transportations runs at regular intervals of time so you will not get lost in one place.
As the city has been one of the main cities of Maharashtra and serves as the center of the Marathwada division, the shopping facility is also assured. The city has many movie theaters where you can watch movies and enjoy yourself with your friends and company.
Bonus
Feel yourself like an emperor, visit Grishneshwar temple in the early morning, then explore the caves of Ellora and enjoy the sunset on the mighty fort of Deogiri aka Daulatabad.
Let me tell you one truth, the emperor Akbar did the camping here with his whole family and with his other royals. If you don’t believe me, you can check the records.
Summarize
This is not only a cave system or some monolithic structure; this is a reference of our Indian religious harmony which tells lots more than just stories. This adventure brings more than history, it shows you the concept of the universe in once part while the dedications and culture of the present day.
Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist all three beliefs still live on the page and you are going to experience this in the caves of Ellora.
So enjoy your visit.
Photo Attribution
Front gate of kailasa temple cave 16 Photo by Adesh Ranjan
Pathway in the Ellora Photo by Naveen Kumar
Buddhist Cave in Ellora Photo by Frank Engle
Aerial view of Kailasa Temple Photo by Arun
Jain Cave in Ellora Photo by Tarit Kumar Bandyopadhyay
View from cave 29 of Ellora Photo by By Ms Sarah Welch
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