The Ellora Caves, which the locals refer to as Verul Leni, are located 30 kilometres from Aurangabad in Aurangabad-Chalisgaon. These magnificent rock-cut temple caves display artwork and monuments from the 600–1000 C.E. periods of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Within this collection of monastic cave temples, cave 16 has the Kailasha Temple, a superb example of monolithic single rock excavation art. The temple even features representations of the gods, goddesses, and myths found in the Hindu epics, as well as the cults of Vaishnavism and Shaktism. There are 100 caves in all in the Ellora cave complex, of which 34 are accessible to the general public.
There are twelve Buddhist caves, seventeen Hindu caves, and five Jain caves in this group. The religious beliefs of the people living at that period are reflected in these caves. The Jain caves were constructed by the Yadav dynasty, while the Buddhist and Hindu caves were constructed by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. These caves performed a variety of functions, including housing monks, resting places for travellers, and places for prayer.
History of Ellora Caves
Because the Western Ghats provided an excellent location for excavation and carving, rock-hewn architecture reached its zenith under the rule of the Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas in western India.
Additionally, the monarchs were accepting of all religions, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, and under their guidance, the excavation of these rock-cut temples achieved unprecedented success.
Timings
All days other than Tuesday are open for visiting these caves.
Entry Fee
For natives of India, BIMSTEC, and SAARC nations, the entrance charge ticket is Rs. 10 per person; for outsiders, it is Rs. 250 per person.
Activities to do in and around
Popular stops along the way to the Ellora Caves include the following:
The stunning rock stronghold known as Daulatabad Fort is located 30 km away from Aurangabad. It is full of winding, hidden tunnels.
Ten kilometres from the Dhaulatabad fort, Khuldabad is a tranquil hill station that is home to a few well carved Sufi tombs.
The stunning Bhadra maruti Mandir is a few km east of the Sufi’s grave.
How to travel to Ellora Caves
You may travel by car, rail, or plane to get to the Ellora caves. The closest airport to the Ellora Caves is at Aurangabad, which is 30 km away and provides good access to Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai. The railway station nearest to the caves is Aurangabad.
The train station and the caves are accessible by bus and private vehicle. One may hire private automobiles from a variety of private tour providers. It takes 1-2 hours to drive from Ellora to Aurangabad.
The Best time to visit
The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, and the winter, which runs from October to February, are the finest times of year to explore these breathtaking caves. March, April, and May are the months to stay away from because of the intense summer heat.
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