Top 16 places to visit in Ellora Caves

The Indian Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These rock-cut caves were made by Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain groups. The group includes about 100 caves with very detailed carvings and statues. A building called the Kailasa Temple is the most well-known of the caves. The builders carved the whole building from a single rock, which is very big. The caverns are well-known as Verul and have a long history of religious significance. Many people have visited them on pilgrimages, and they still do. Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are all represented in the Ellora Caves' inscriptions and carvings. 

Ellora Caves 1 to 5

Monks can enjoy eight modest chambers in the first Simple Vihara Cave. It might have been used to store food for the bigger rooms. Cave 2 is much more impressive. Devotees dedicated it to Lord Buddha, and visitors can reach it by going up a flight of steps. The layout of Caves 3 and 4 is like that of Cave 2, but they are in bad shape. The local Mahar people used Cave 5 as a shelter during the rainy season, so people call it Maharwada Cave. These caves are among the early places to visit in Ellora Caves, especially for those interested in Buddhist architecture.

Ellora Caves 6 to 9

The Buddhist caves of Ellora, which date from approximately 450 to 700 AD, can be found in Caves 6 through 9. Three of the most stunning Ellora sculptures are located in Cave 6. In the seventh century, after Christ's death, it was constructed.  Cave 7 features a sizable plain vihara.  Its breadth is about 51 feet and its depth is about 43 feet. Four beams hold up the roof. Cave 8 has two rooms and a shrine with a path around it. Artisans beautifully carved the front of Cave 9 and added six sitting Buddhas in elaborate arches, arranged in rows of three, two, and one from bottom to top. These are highlights of Ellora Caves tour packages that attract Buddhist art lovers.

Ellora Cave 10

People consider Cave 10 the most famous Buddhist cave in Ellora, and they also call it Vishwakarma Cave. It is right next to Cave 9. The Vishwakarma Cave is also known as the Sutar-ka-Chopra, which literally means "carpenter's hut."  Woodworkers from the area often go to the cave. They see Buddha as Vishwakarma, the god who keeps their trade safe. Artisans built this as the only chaitya in the group of caves around the year 700 AD. One of the most beautiful places to visit is Ellora Caves, which is popular for its craftsmanship and cultural significance.

Ellora Cave 11

Ellora is blessed with twelve Buddhist caves, Cave 11 being one of them. It is right next to Cave 10. Because Cave 11 has two floors, people originally called it Dho Tal, which means "Two Floors." In 1876 AD, explorers discovered a lower level, making it a three-floor structure. After that, people continued using the name Do Tal. In 1877 AD, archaeologists excavated part of the cave and revealed a porch that measured 102 feet long and 9 feet wide. The porch included two cells and a shrine where artists depicted Buddha sitting with Padmapani and Vajrapani by his side. Because of its historical importance, travel companies often include this unique structure in Ellora Caves tour packages.

Ellora Cave 12

Cave 12 is also called Teen Tal. It contains the biggest monasteries at Ellora and even in Maharashtra. Locals call it Teen Tal because the building has three floors. Visitors enter the huge complex through a massive entrance carved out of natural rock, which opens into a large courtyard. The first floor is up a flight of stairs, with a shrine at the back. The first floor's side walls line nine cells. Sculptors have placed sculptures of Buddha and other gods on the walls, making this one of the spiritual and artistic places to visit in Ellora Caves.

Ellora Cave No 14

Cave 14, also known as Ravana Ka Khai, is an unadorned cavern that dates back to the early seventh century AD. Buddhist vihara that stood there. This cave has a large courtyard with pillars, a mandapa with 16 kumbhavalli pillars, and a shrine with a linga and a wide pradakshinapath going around it. At the entrance, the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna stand guard. Each side of the mandapa's walls is divided into five portions by kalasa-topped pillars. Tour organizers often highlight this site in Ellora Caves tour packages for its elegant symmetry and spiritual presence.

Ellora Cave 15

The Rashtrakuta dynasty's King Dantidurga supervised its construction.   The cave number fifteen was named for him. Lords Shiva and Vishnu are among the many shown in this cavern. This building has two floors and a big courtyard with a single-story Nandi mandapa. River gods flank the entrance. It used to be a Buddhist monastery, but in the 8th century AD, it was turned into a Shiva temple. On the caps of the first floor, you can see some Buddha statues. It is one of the most interesting places to visit in Ellora Caves for those exploring the transition between religions.

Ellora Caves 17 to 20

In the direction of the north of Kailasa Temple, Cave 17 is the next major cave. It is a temple for Lord Shiva. Even though Cave 18 looks very simply, the Rashtrakuta designed it in the 8th century with enough features to show their style. In Cave 19, a vast square pitha from the Kalachuri period holds the enormous lingam, featuring a square base and a rounded top. There used to be two pillars in front of Cave 20's small linga shrine, but they are no longer there. The cave is 53 feet long and 30 feet wide. These are key elements of Ellora Caves tour packages for those interested in Shaivism.

Ellora Cave 21

Between Cave 16 and Cave 29, you will find Cave 21, also called Rameshwara Cave. In the latter half of the sixth century AD, explorers found the Rameshwara Cave. Among the most fascinating caves in the region, it is also often believed to be the earliest of Ellora's Hindu caverns. This cave has become famed for its beautiful sculptures. This cave also houses a shrine dedicated to Lord Siva, who devotees worship as a linga. Unquestionably, it is one of Ellora Caves' most culturally significant places to visit. 

Ellora Caves 22 to 28

Cave 22, Nilkantha, features a damaged Nandi shrine and separate Matrika shrines. Cave 23 has a double verandah with five doors, while Cave 24 is Teli-Ka-Gana. The Cave 25, Kunbharwada, depicts Surya with horses and a female. There are four columns and a church in Cave 26. Lakshmi, Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Mahishasuramardini, Varaha, and Vishnu are carved into Cave 27, also known as Milkmaid's Cave. Cave 28, on the other hand, is under a waterfall and has rooms, a vestibule, and a shrine. These caves are a vibrant part of Ellora Caves tour packages for lovers of mythology and iconography.

Ellora Cave 29

The Hindu Cave 29 is also in Ellora. North of the Kailasa Temple is where it is located. It is the first and final Hindu dig that the Ellora team has completed. Ellora also has another significant dig, Cave 29. Sita-Ki-Nahani, a pool in the Elaganga River created by a waterfall, is right next door. It goes by the name Dumar Lena as well. The Elephanta Caves, close to Mumbai, served as an inspiration. They influenced the construction of Cave 29 in the late sixth century AD. As a major highlight, it is among the must-see places to visit in Ellora Caves.

Ellora Cave 30

Ellora also has a Jain cave called Cave 30. It is north of the Kailashnath Temple. Among Ellora's Jain Caves, this one stands out as particularly fascinating. Five Jain caves were constructed at Ellora by builders between 9 and 10 AD. All of them are part of the Digambara people. The Jain Caves showcase several facets of Jain practice and philosophy. These caves clearly show a strict sense of asceticism. Although they are smaller than others, they display art with exceptional levels of detail. These caves are integral to Ellora Caves tour packages for those exploring Jain heritage.

Ellora Cave 32

Beautifully arranged across two stories, Cave 32 is home to a cluster of shrines. The Jain gods Mahavira and others are the objects of their devotion. Though unadorned on the ground level, the second is adorned with exquisite furnishings. An open court with lion and elephant friezes on the sides is reached through a simple gate. In the middle is a shrine made of one piece that represents the Tirthankaras. To its right is a massive tower made of manastambha, and to its left is a giant elephant made of one piece. This Jain complex is one of the most serene and artistic places to visit in Ellora Caves.

Ellora Caves 33 and 34

Cave 33 is the second largest of the Jain caverns that can be found in Ellora. Another name for it is Jagannatha Sabha. The court of the cave is not nearly as big as the Indra Sabha, which had some well-preserved paintings. There are five separate shrines in Cave 33. A two-story sanctuary and columned mandapa are features of each. The last but one in the series of Jain Caves is Cave 34. At the very northern end of this cave, there is a small shrine with a picture of the Tirthankaras. These are must-visits in Ellora Caves tour packages for art and religion enthusiasts.

Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India is the Grishneshwar Temple in Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lord Shiva is the devotee of this Aurangabad Jyotirlinga. For pilgrims, it is an absolute must-visit site. It is also known as Ghrneshwar Temple or Dhushmeshwar Temple. Grishneshwar is the smallest Jyotirlinga. People in India consider it to be the twelfth and last Jyotirlinga. In Aurangabad, this temple is one of the best places to visit in Ellora Caves for spiritual seekers.

Shri Kailasa Temple

The Kailasha or Kailashanatha temple is the world's biggest single-piece rock-cut structure. Located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, it is in Ellora Cave No. 16. Made from a single basalt rock from the Charanandri Hills, this temple is one of a kind in India because of its vast size, fantastic building, and mind-boggling carvings. The panels, pillars, and statues of animals and gods at Kailasa Temple are intricately designed. The temple is an engineering marvel that history and building buffs will love. It is the crown jewel of all Ellora Caves tour packages.