Ellora Caves

Ellora · Maharashtra

34 rock-cut monasteries and temples of three faiths — crowned by Kailasa, the largest monolithic structure ever carved. A UNESCO site.

Timings

Sunrise – sunset (closed Tuesdays)

Entry

Approx ₹40 (Indian) / ₹600 (foreign)

Best time

Morning; October–March

Time needed

Half day

The Ellora Caves are one of the greatest rock-cut wonders of the world — 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff over five centuries, and remarkable for representing three religions (Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism) side by side in harmony. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site of staggering ambition.

Its crowning achievement is the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16): the largest single monolithic rock excavation on earth, carved top-down from a single piece of rock to resemble a freestanding temple, complete with courtyards, sculptures and elephants. Standing before it is genuinely humbling.

Don't miss

›The colossal monolithic Kailasa Temple.
›The Buddhist prayer halls and Jain shrines.
›The intricate sculptural panels throughout.

Good to know

Closed on Tuesdays (Ajanta is closed Mondays — plan the pair carefully). Aurangabad is the base for both. A guide brings the astonishing engineering to life.