From Distance Driving Time
Mumbai 400 km. 11 hr. 0 min. Getting There

Destination Description

Ellora is a spectacular heritage site, filled with some of Indias best-known and much-admired examples of art and architecture. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora is famous for its 34 Caves hewn out of volcanic rock, each one bearing marvelous examples of paintings and sculptures. Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist sites dating back to 500 -750 AD while Caves 13 to 29 are Hindu. Caves 30-34 are Jain. The most impressive and monumental structure at Ellora is the Kailash Temple (Cave 16), carved out of a single solid block of stone to resemble Lord Shivas mountain abode in the Himalayas. Take a deep breath and get prepared to be totally blown away by the skill of countless nameless Indian artists at Ellora. You are sure to walk away with some great insights into Indias rich cultural heritage.

Best Time To Visit

Winter months (from October to February) or during the monsoons are a good time to visit the Ellora Caves. Weekends and holidays tend to be very hectic with plenty of visitors to the

Accommodation Option

Ellora has reasonably comfortable accommodation, but most people prefer to stay in the nearbt town of Aurangabad, where there are all categories of hotels available.

Activities

Amaze at the beautiful and serene Buddha sculptures in Cave 2 and admire the wall paintings in Cave 6. Cave 10 or the Vishwakarma Cave is also known as the Sutar Jhopada or Carpenters Cave referring to the stone rafters resembling wooden beams here and the fineness of the seated Buddha sculpture . Cave 11 and 12 are multi-storeyed and filled with beautiful carvings. Trek through the Hindu caves and gaze at the countless bas-reliefs along the walls, most of them depicting episodes from Shiva’s life and a few showing Lord Vishnu’s various incarnations. Interesting some of the Hindu Caves were once Buddhist sites and one can see the transition in the carvings and friezes. Explore the impressive Kailash Temple with its vibrant sculpted friezes and detailed paintings. Stop to admire the exquisite carvings of the two River Goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, which flank the temple entrance. Watch the Mahabharata come alive in the long sculpted friezes running along the walls of the Kailash Temple. The Jain Caves, though less grand in scale as compared to the Hindu Caves, bear some beautiful sculptures, particularly the Gomatesvara image. Ellora is sure to leave you filled with deep respect for India’s masterful artists.

Places Nearby

Aurangabad (30 km) with its many Mughal monuments is a great place to explore. The Bibi ka Maqbara built as an imitation of the Taj Mahal is an interesting site to visit. The Jami Masjid and the Dargah of Baba Shah Musafir is well worth a visit.