Ellora Caves, Rock-cut temples in Sambhajinagar district, India
The Ellora Caves are a group of rock-cut temples and monasteries in Aurangabad district, India. In total, 34 structures extend across 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles), all carved out from the natural basalt formations.
Work began in the 5th century and continued for roughly 500 years, with Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain communities building at the site in succession. The different construction phases reflect the changing dynastic patronage and religious influences in the region.
Throughout the complex, worshippers pray at the shrines and statues, decorating them with flowers and incense. On certain festival days, families from the surrounding area come to participate in religious ceremonies held inside some of the caves.
Walking through all the areas takes several hours, so it helps to start early in the day and bring comfortable shoes. Some paths between the caves are uneven or involve stairs, which makes moving around more tiring.
The Kailasa temple was hollowed out from top to bottom, with stonemasons removing roughly 200,000 tons of rock. This method meant that no mistake was allowed during the work, as nothing could be added or corrected.
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