History, Importance, Timings, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Ellora Caves, Verul - Ellora, Maharashtra, India
Group of 34 caves temple located near small village Verul or Ellora, in Sahyadri hills, Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India are world famous as Ellora caves. Now it is protected by Archeologic Survey of India and also declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. This is one of the enormous and largest rock-cut cave temple complex in the world which are excavations from the Charanandri Hills. There are more than 100 caves in Ellora Caves campus but out of it 34 are open from public. Ellora Caves are just 100 km from Ajanta Caves thus jointly popular as Ajanta Ellora caves or Ajanta Ellora or Ajanta and Ellora caves. Here you can find the monument of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in same campus which showcase the spirit of tolerance of ancient India. From the dating of 600-1000 period, there is a featuring of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Memorial and artwork. Specially in caves number 16A Chariot shaped Memorial of the Kailash Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the largest solitary Monolithic stone excavation in all over the world. The Kailash Temple excavation also attributes sculptures representing the gods goddess and folk tales established in vaishnavism, shaktism and relief panels as well, abridge the two Prime Hindu epics.
Ellora caves are never been forgotten since the time of construction and always place of worshiped for Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Out of 34 caves from Cave number 1 to 13 are Buddhist caves - Chaityas or halls of worship and Viharas or monasteries, Cave number 14 to 29 are Hindu temple and Cave number 30 to 34 are Jain temple. Thus from the ancient time to present date large number of pilgrims, tourist, history and art lover visit here through out the year.
All of the Ellora Memorial constructed part of the Hindu and Buddhist Caves had been built during the time of of rashtrakuta dynasty and a number of Jain Caves had been constructed during the time of Yadava dynasty. To construct the memorial, The fund had been given by the traders, Royals and the wealthy of the region as well. The Ellora Caves served as Temple monasteries and a rest stop for worshippers.
In the Deccan region the Ellora cave is prime commercial centre is its site location on an ancient South Asian Trade route. In the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state the Ellora caves a company with the nearby Ajanta Caves are prime tourist attraction place. It is the under protection of of the archaeological Survey of India.
Ellora cave is also called as Elura or Verul,is the short form of the past name Elapura. That name had been found in past references of Baroda inscription of 812 CE. In that it mentions the greatness of the Edifice. This considerable erection was built on a hill and it is constructed by the Krishna Raja at Elapura. The erection in the inscription is being the Kailash Temple. Each cave is named has a suffix Leni or lena (Marathi), Buha (Sanskrit) in connection of Indian tradition.
Hindu Caves had been built in two phases. In the rashtrakuta period the caves number 14, 15, 16 had been built. The prior Hindu caves were devoted to Lord Shiva with engraving depicting the folk tales related to other Lords as well.
It was prior summarised that the Buddhist Caves were built prior The Hindu Caves. But the letter on it was proved that Hindu Caves were built prior the Buddhist cave by enough evidence. And this hypothesis was debunked. The prior Buddhist caves constructed was the cave number 6, 11, 12. These caves attribute monasteries sanctums which include carving of Buddha and bodhisattvas as well.
In the 9th and 10th century the Jain Memorial had been excavated five Caves. It is lying to the north of the Ellora Caves and it is belonging to the Digambara sect this cave is small in a size as compared to Hindu and Buddhist Caves. These caves have the architectural features as like a pillared Varandah and a Mandapa. The carving of the yaksa and yaksi, God and goddess included in the Jain temples and the Jain mythological sensibilities as well.
Ellora caves are open though out the year except the Tuesday.
How to Reach Ellora Caves, Maharashtra, India
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple of Lord Shiva is located in Verul and Ellora Caves are just 2 km from village where thousands of people reach. Thus it is very well connected with all major cities of Maharashtra via road, rail and air network. Verul – Ellora is located just at just 31 km from Aurangabad, 310 km from Mumbai, 175 km from Nashik, 250 km from Pune, 105 km from Ajanta Caves, 101 km from Shirdi, 205 km from Trimbak, 135 km from Ahmednagar. From Ellora, the nearest airport is in Aurangabad, at a distance of around 36 km and nearest railway station is in Aurangabad which is approximately 29 Kms away. So you can easily reach by train and flight.
