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The sun had just risen, as we landed at the entry gates of Ellora Caves on an early January morning. There was a sharp nip in the air, making it perfect for the long walks we were about to embark on.
Little did we know that we would end up spending six hours at this place! It’s true — we had entered the premises at 7 in the morning and exited at 1 in the afternoon! That’s how massive and intriguing this UNESCO World Heritage Site is.
So, which were the most fascinating parts of the Ellora Caves? And what’s the ideal way to explore them? I’ll take you through it all in this article.
Contents
Best Part About Our Visit To Ellora Caves — The Guided Tour
Firstly, the scale and magnanimity of Ellora Caves can be slightly overwhelming, if you are not accompanied by a guide. It is spread across a whopping 2 kilometers of cliffs, with a rich history that is ought to be known.
That’s why hiring a government-assigned guide turned out to be the best decision during our visit. Otherwise, not only would we have been lost, but we would’ve also been oblivious to its numerous tales.
From informing us about the origin and significance of the caves, to explaining the meaning of various sculptures, the tour guide made the entire experience enriching and wholesome.
TWT Tip: The tour guide usually leaves after completion of two hours. Thus, you might want to ask him as many questions as you need to within those two hours. Try to avoid taking long breaks within these 2 hours, so that he can show you around properly within his assigned time and not skip any important parts.
How To Explore India’s Ellora Caves?
Ellora Caves are actually a group of 34 caves created by digging basalt cliffs. Each cave is dedicated to either Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist temples and monasteries. In fact, it stands testament to a time when rulers were tolerant and inclusive towards various religions.
Here’s the best & most practical way to explore them:
Step 1: Hire an official tour guide
As mentioned above, start with hiring a government tour guide at the official counter. Though it costs INR 2,000 per guide, he will stay with you for two hours and help you understand the history, importance and story of the Ellora Caves.
Step 2: Explore the awe-inspiring Kailasa Temple
The first structure you come across after entering the main cave premises is the Kailasa Temple, which is part of the Hindu caves (cave no. 13 to no. 29). And this will surely leave you the most spellbound, with its 100 ft. height and 300 ft. length. It is the largest monolithic structure in the world!
Visually, the intricacy of the architecture and design are breathtaking. But, what’s more astounding is to imagine how the artisans of those times sculpted a single rock from the top to carve out the temple, without using scaffolding! The technique was completely in contrast to the usual process of constructing any building from the base. It’s also a mystery as to where the remaining rocks that were cut out disappeared, as no debris was found in the nearby areas.
This temple’s mysterious side doesn’t end here. As we walked through some of the dark halls, our tour guide informed us that different beliefs were attached to the construction of the temple. While some believe that a queen called Manikavati (from the Elapura dynasty) commissioned the construction for her ailing husband, others believe it could not have been manmade and rather, a creation from mythological powers.
In the main shrine, a shiva linga is still present. The walls of the temple feature elaborate life-size carvings of elephants and depict scenes from Mahabharata, Ramayana, as well as stories of Lord Shiva. From one of the courtyards, you’ll also be able to spot a pillar and courtyard that features on the 20 rupees note of Indian currency.
And if these are not impressive enough, wait till you climb up the small adjacent hill and view the temple from the top. You’ll find yourself gasping at the architectural marvel that lies hidden beneath the surface of the hilltop!
Step 3: Find peace at the Buddhist caves
The Buddhist Caves (cave no. 1 to no. 12) are a short walk away from the Kailasa Temple, making it an obvious next stop.
The first cave here houses a temple dedicated to Lord Buddha, which transported us to an otherworldly space. It was dark, yet a ray of sunlight shone on Lord Buddha’s statue from a tiny opening on the top. There was an inexplicable sense of calm and peace, even though the chatter of a few visitors echoed across the hall.
The architecture was relatively simpler, with a few carvings of angels on the outer ceiling. There were tiny, cave-like meditation rooms within the 2-storey building, which seemed like the ultimate space for monks.
We realized the beauty of the design when our tour guide sang a short prayer in front of Lord Buddha’s statue. His voice reverberated through the place, evoking a mystical feeling.
Step 4: Take a refreshment break
After you visit all the Buddhist caves, you can go back to the main booking counter zone, as the remaining caves are on the other side.
In this zone, you will find surprisingly-clean washrooms and a small cafeteria. So, it’s recommended to relax for a while after those long walks.
Gulping down some coke and juices at the cafeteria helped us regain energy, before we could continue our exploration of the Ellora Caves.
TWT Tip: The cafeteria didn’t have many food options other than maggi, a few biscuits, chips and beverages. Luckily, we had gotten some parathas packed from an eatery in Aurangabad city, which became our breakfast for the day. We enjoyed them from one of the benches, with the beautiful view in front of us.
Step 5: Hop on to an electric car to go to the Jain caves
The Jain caves (cave no.30 to no. 34) are located quite far away from the counter. Thus, you can hop on one of their official electric buggies to get to that part of the caves. The ticket for the electric buggy per person will cost you INR 30.
This actually turned out to be a respite from the long walks we had been on. Also, the sun was shining brightly by then, making walking a bit more challenging.
When you reach the Jain caves, you will find the ambience similar to the Buddhist caves, with several carvings of elephants and Lord Mahavira’s statue at the sanctum.
While returning back, you can stop at cave no. 29, which is an unfinished temple called Chota Kailasa. One of the most notable sights you will find here is a stream of waterfall from the roofs of the caves, which is apparently thicker in the monsoon. The cave also features intricate sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Did You Know?
Mughal emperor Aurangazeb had once set out to destroy the Chota Kailasa temple, but failed to do so. However, as a result, some of the carvings have been ruined.
Best Time To Visit Ellora Caves, India
The most ideal season to visit Ellora Caves is the Monsoon or Winter. In the rainy season, the cloudy weather and breeze makes the long hikes easier. The caves also have little streams of waterfalls dropping from the hilltops, which make for stunning sights.
In the Winter as well, the climate is quite pleasant for hiking, except for the peak afternoons. I strongly advise you to avoid the summer months, as exploring the gigantic Ellora Caves under the blazing hot sun can be very challenging.
In terms of the time of the day, reaching early morning would be the best decision as you can cover a majority of the caves before the temperatures rise and before the huge crowds start to arrive.
Alternatively, you can visit late afternoon around 3 pm, start with visiting the Jain caves on the electric buggy and then explore the rest on foot when the weather gets pleasant. If you time your entire visit between 10 am and 2 pm, the experience can be quite tiresome due to the hot climate at that time.
TWT Tip: Wearing comfortable walking shoes can enhance your experience at Ellora Caves, as it requires long hikes for hours, and the floors within the caves are quite uneven.
Food Options Near Ellora Caves, India
Since the cafeteria inside the Ellora Caves serves only packaged snacks and beverages, you’ll find proper food only after you come out. Immediately beyond the gate, there are several street-side stalls that sell tiffins such as Vada Pav and Bhajiya.
However, for full meals, we found restaurants only after about a kilometre. Our taxi driver recommended a place called Tulsi Family Restaurant, where we found good Andhra, Maharashtrian and Oriya meals. The combination of roti, rice, curries and dal was much-needed after the 6-hour-long exploration. Gauging from the crowd present, the place also seemed popular.
You’ll also find more varied food options in Aurangabad main city, which is around an hour away from Ellora Caves.
Where Can You Stay Near Ellora Caves, India?
We stayed at Zostel, which was a clean, comfortable and affordable travellers’ hostel in Aurangabad main city. Here are some of the other top-rated hotels in Aurangabad where you can consider staying:
- Vivanta Aurangabad
- The Fern Residency
- WelcomHotel by ITC
- Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport
- Lemon Tree
- Ginger
- Enrise by Sayaji
Ideal Time Required At Ellora Caves, India
I’ve heard some people say that they were able to cover Ellora Caves within 2-3 hours. However, if you opt for a guided tour, capture lots of photographs, and visit every single part of the caves like we did, it can easily take you 5-6 hours. This also includes short 10-15 minute breaks after every hour. So, plan to spend at least half a day in these caves if you wish to explore them thoroughly.
Other Places To Visit Near Ellora Caves, India
The caves are located just a kilometer away from Grishneshwar Temple, which is one of the 12 Jyothirling Mandirs. Thus, you can easily visit the temple before or after Ellora Caves.
Here are all the other places in Aurangabad that you can visit along with Ellora Caves:
- Daulatabad Fort
- Bibi Ka Maqbara
- Panchakki
- Shivaji Maharaj Museum
- Ajanta Caves
- Aurangabad Caves
- Salim Ali Lake
- Soneri Mahal
How To Book The Tickets Of Ellora Caves, India?
Though physical tickets can be booked at the official counter of Ellora Caves on arrival, I highly recommend you to book on the official website of ASI in advance like we did.
Firstly, the price is cheaper, as online tickets cost INR 35, while offline tickets are priced at INR 40. Plus, the offline counters usually have long queues, which you can skip if you pre-book your ticket online.
How Can You Reach Ellora Caves, India?
Ellora Caves is situated 29 kilometers away from the main city of Aurangabad, which takes around 50-60 minutes to reach. So we had booked an Uber taxi, which functions well in the city. You can also hire a local auto or get on a local bus and alight at the bus stop near the entrance.
Aurangabad is connected to other major cities of India through road, rail as well as air.
TWT Experience Summary Of Ellora Caves, India
Every corner of Ellora Caves made us marvel at the unbelievable engineering and artistry that ancient India boasted of. It was also interesting to note how various caves evoked different emotions. While the Kailasa temple at the Hindu caves left a sense of mystery and awe for its intriguing and exquisite design, the Buddhist and Jain caves put us in a calm and meditative state.
Meanwhile, the tour guide’s narration of Ellora Caves’ history took us back in time, adding meaning to the numerous sculptures that adorned the caves. By the time we came out, our minds felt enriched with knowledge, and our hearts felt full to have witnessed such brilliant craftsmanship.
And of course, exploring the entire Ellora Caves can be extremely exhausting, if you choose the wrong time and season. Hence, plan your visit at 6 or 7 AM between the months of July and February to have the best experience. Also, carry some food/snacks and beverages in your bag to stay well-hydrated and energized.
Timings of Ellora Caves: 6 am to 6 pm
Ticket price of Ellora Caves: INR 35 (online) and INR 40 (offline) for Indians & citizens of SAARC & BIMSTEC countries; INR 550 (online) and INR 600 (offline) for foreigners; free kids aged below 15 years
Location: Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellora Caves, India
1. Who constructed the Ellora Caves & when?
Ellora Caves were believed to have been constructed between 600 AD and 1000 AD by various dynasties, including the Rashtrakutas, Satavahanas and Chalukyas. However, inscriptions of those times have never been found by historians.
2. How many caves are present within Ellora Caves?
Ellora Caves have a total of 34 caves, with the Hindu caves present in the centre, Buddhist caves on the right side of the entrance and Jain caves on the left side.
3. Do religious activities take place at Ellora Caves?
Religious activities do not take place at Ellora Caves anymore, as it has been partly destroyed by Mughal rulers. The caves are maintained by the Archeological Society Of India and used for tourism activities only.
4. What kind of facilities are available at Ellora Caves if tourists don’t want to walk?
Electric buggies are available at various points within the cave premises, which you can hire for INR 30 for each person. Wheelchair facilities are also present for senior citizens and specially-abled tourists.
5. Are food facilities available inside the Ellora Caves?
Ellora Caves only has two small cafeterias inside its premises, where you will get packaged snacks, maggi, cold drinks and tea. Hence, it helps to carry some food and water inside your bag. After you come out of the gates of Ellora Caves, you will find many stalls and eateries.
6. Are Ellora Caves closed on any day of the week?
Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays every week.
7. How much do tour guides charge at Ellora Caves?
The price for hiring a government-assigned tour guide at Ellora Caves is fixed at INR 2050. This will be valid for two hours and the guide will explain the significance and history of each cave.
