Must visit temple caves, added to the World Heritage list, located just in 30 km from Aurangabad. Below you will find my own experience of our one day trip to Ellora Caves. I am sorry for my photos, they are not as impressive as this place is, but believe me you won’t regret if visit it.
We spent 5 hours in Elllora caves, it is big and impressive complex. The most impressive is cave number 16 called Kailasa Temple, that stands in the middle of the complex. I can hardly imagine how people in 8th century, using only hammer and chisel created such a masterpiece from the solid rock.
Elephants of Kailasa Temple
Gallery carved from solid rock around Kailasa Temple
Finest carvings of Kailasa Temple
Inside Kailasa Temple
The uniqueness of Ellora complex is that it houses three types of caves – hindu caves, buddhist caves and jain caves. Jain caves were closed during our visit.
Hindu caves (on the left of Kailasa Temple, caves from 13 to 29) are decorated with columns and different carved pictures of Hindu Gods. Some caves are really big with second and even third floors!
Hindu Cave with carvings
View over hindu temple with sacred cow in the center
Buddhist caves seemed more elegant with more fine carvings. They are on the right from Kailasa Temple (caves from 1 to 12). Some caves are decorated from the outside, cave number 10 is most impressive with big statue of Buddha.
Buddhist Cave
There is a restaurant near entrance to Ellora caves and a lot of stalls with street food in case you come hungry. There is no food available once you enter the caves, but the water is still available inside the complex.
Entrance fee is 500 Rupees(8$) for foreigners and 30 Rupees for Indians.
Timings: 6AM to 5:30PM, closed every Tuesday.
Bon Voyage 