Ellora - Maharashtra - India

Situated at around 30 kms from Aurangabad, Ellora caves are the famous caves in the Maharashtra. These are total 34 caves and contain beautiful rock-cut temples. Ellora caves are also known as ‘Verul Leni’ locally. With Ajanta caves, Ellora caves are also considered as one of the best and popular heritage sites in the world. 

Ellora Caves are a World Heritage Site and are famous for their architecture. The place is a complex of monasteries and Buddhist temples that have been cut out of a single mountain rock. 

The Ellora Caves are an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples built between the 6th and 10th centuries AD near the ancient Indian village of Ellora. The caves have a slightly less dramatic setting than those at Ajanta, but more exquisite sculptures. Ellora is a World Heritage Site and the most visited ancient monument in Maharashtra State.

The coexistence of structures from three different religions serve as a splendid visual representation of the prevalent religious tolerance of India. For this reason and others, the Ellora Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Ellora complex includes 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain Caves. Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist monasteries, chaityas and viharas, while caves 13 to 29 are the Hindu temples. Dating back to the 9th and 10th century, Caves 30 to 34 are the Jain shrines.

The perfect time to visit the Ellora caves is from October to February and from June to September, since tourists get to feel the pleasant climate in these seasons and when every stream is filled with rain water.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to Ellora lies in Aurangabad which is located 15 kilometers away. Daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai arrive here while there is direct connectivity of airport with Jaipur, Pune and Udaipur as well.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Aurangabad to which regular trains from Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Amritsar etc. have a stopover. Besides there are a couple of daily trains that arrive to Aurangabad from Mumbai. Jalgaon is another suitable alternative to Aurangabad which is located 59 km from Ellora. Both of these stations are served by trains from all major cities of India.

By Road: The closest inter-state terminal is located in Aurangabad, which is situated at a distance of 30 kilometers from Ellora. Regular Autos ply from this terminus to Ellora or you can also catch private or Govt. run buses as well.

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