Distance: 350 Kms
Ellora, also known as Elapura and Ellooru, is one is an archaeological site and is situated near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It was built by the kings of the Rashtrakuta dynasty and is well known for its monumental caves.
The site has been declared as a World Heritage Site and is considered to be the epitome of Indian rock cut architecture. The location has 34 caves, which are really structures that have been dug out of the face of the Charanandri Hills. It has a number of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock cut temples and several viharas and mathas, which are believed to have been built between the 5th and 10th centuries.
There are as many 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves and 5 Jain caves, which are evidence to the religious tolerance existing in the region at that time. It was initially thought that the Buddhist caves were the earliest structures at the site. However, later it was discovered that specific Hindu caves have been existence even before the Buddhist ones. Some of the Buddhist caves have shrines that bear carvings of Gautama Buddha, saints and bodhisattavas.
Interestingly, in certain places, the artists have tried to make the stone structures look like as if they were made of wood. Among all the Buddhist caves, the most interesting one is the Vishwakarma cave, also called the Carpenter’s Cave. It has a multi-storey entrance and a cathedral like stupa called the Chaitya. In the centre, there is a 15 foot statue of Buddha sitting in a preaching position. The ceiling has been beautifully carved in a manner to make it look like it is made of wooden beams.
Among the Hindu caves, the most notable is the Kailasanatha. It is based on the mythological Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva. Carved out of one single stone, the monument covers an area double the size of the Parthenon in Athens. Earlier, the temple was covered in white plaster to make it resemble the Mount Kailasa.