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Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves

heritage site · Maharashtra

The Ellora Caves are a group of 34 rock-cut shrines carved into the basalt cliffs of the Charanandri Hills near Aurangabad.

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

The Ellora Caves are a group of 34 rock-cut shrines carved into the basalt cliffs of the Charanandri Hills near Aurangabad. Stretching over two kilometres, they bring together Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples cut between the 6th and 10th centuries CE — a rare place where all three faiths sit side by side. The centrepiece is Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple: the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world, carved top-down from a single cliff. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of basalt were removed to reveal a multi-storey temple with carved pillars, life-size elephants and detailed galleries.

A short history

Carved between roughly the 6th and 10th centuries CE, the 34 caves at Ellora represent an unusual timeline of religious coexistence — Buddhist viharas and chaityas, Hindu temples including the monolithic Kailasa Temple carved from a single rock, and Jain shrines were all cut into the same basalt cliff face across different dynasties, chiefly the Rashtrakutas.

Why Ellora Caves matters

A UNESCO World Heritage Site with 34 rock-cut monasteries and temples representing Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism side by side.

How many people come

18 lakh

monument in 2023 · ASI (estimate)

When to go

The ideal window to explore Ellora is from October to March when clear winter days provide perfect conditions for walking across the open cliff facades.

Why visit

Stand inside the Kailasa Temple — an entire temple carved out of one mountain — and see three faiths' rock-cut art together at one extraordinary UNESCO site.

Cultural notes

Inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the complex flourished under the direct royal patronage of the Rashtrakuta and Yadava dynasties. The site bridges three distinct philosophical lineages: Caves 1-12 track Buddhist engineering, Caves 13-29 highlight Hindu rock excavations, and Caves 30-34 preserve complex Jain reliefs.

How to reach

Located just 30 km northwest of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Airport and railway station. Flawlessly linked via well-maintained national highways, with local state buses, shared tempos, and private rental taxis running continuously every hour.

2 days in Ellora Caves

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

Day 1

Buddhist, Hindu & Jain caves

Buddhist, Hindu & Jain caves

Day 1

Grishneshwar Temple

Grishneshwar Temple

Day 2

Day 2

Ajanta Caves (full day)

Ajanta Caves (full day)

Day 2

Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort

Day 2

Bibi ka Maqbara

Bibi ka Maqbara

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Ellora Caves.

1 dish

Naan Qalia

A slow-cooked Aurangabad mutton curry eaten with tandoor naan — the Marathwada region's signature dish, sold in the towns around Ellora.

Ellora Caves guide & itineraries

Ellora Caves is perfect for

heritagefamilycouples

What & where to eat

Chaat

Aurangabad city

Chaat

Aurangabad street snacks

samosa

Aurangabad city

samosa

Aurangabad street snacks

Aurangabadi Naan Qalia

Aurangabadi Naan Qalia

Signature mutton-and-bread dish of Aurangabad

Biryani

Biryani

Rich Aurangabad-style biryani

Maharashtrian thali

Vegetarian meals

Aurangabadi sweets (Khova)

Local milk sweets

Nearby getaways

Aurangabad

~30 min

Daulatabad

~15 min

Frequently asked questions

What is the Kailasa Temple?
Cave 16 at Ellora - the world's largest monolithic rock-cut temple, carved top-down from a single basalt hill.
Ellora or Ajanta?
Ellora for the monumental Kailasa temple and multi-faith caves; Ajanta for ancient Buddhist paintings. Allow a day for each.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Ellora Caves.

Buddhist caves (1-12)

Rock-cut monasteries and prayer halls

Hindu & Jain caves

Carved shrines spanning three faiths

Ajanta Caves & Aurangabad forts

Ancient painted caves and nearby monuments

Popular attractions

The places in Ellora Caves most people come for.

Kailash Temple (Cave 16)

Kailash Temple (Cave 16)

Attraction

Vishwakarma Cave (Cave 10)

Vishwakarma Cave (Cave 10)

Attraction

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Ellora Caves

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