Ellora Caves: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting This Iconic UNESCO Site
This guide features helpful insights for planning your trip to Ellora Caves! Find out how to plan your visit, what to expect, trip highlights, and nearby attractions, including the Ajanta Caves.
The Ellora Caves are an amazing place to visit! This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place full of experiences that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. The architecture is incredible and you’ll get an impressive peak into the cultures and religions that peacefully coexisted there!
This article is meant to help travelers in planning a trip to the Ellora Caves, including a little about what makes them special, how to get there, and a few trip-planning tips. You’ll also learn which caves are the absolute must-sees and what to expect while you are there.
The Ajanta and Ellora Caves were places I had never even heard of before coming to Mumbai. It really feels like some secret destination. But I don’t know why it’s not more famous! I’d highly recommend visiting the caves and it’s easily one of my favorite places to travel in Maharashtra.
Whether you are a history lover, an art enthusiast, or just a traveler who loves to have off-the-beaten-path experiences, the Ellora Caves are an absolute must-visit!
This post is all about Ellora Caves.
Ellora Caves: Why it’s an iconic UNESCO site in India
The Ellora Caves are located in Maharashtra, India, near a city called Aurangabad. They are one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple complexes in the world with 34 caves. The Ellora Caves are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are really a hidden gem for travelers to experience in India!
The caves were built in two different phases from 550-750 CE and represent various religions and cultures. The oldest caves are Buddhist which feature monasteries. There are also Hindu caves that showcase various gods, like Shiva and Vishnu. There’s also the Kailasa temple which is the largest monolithic structure in the world! You’ll see a few caves that are Jain as well.
What makes the Ellora Caves so famous are not only the architectural wonders! While it’s truly stunning and beautiful to explore, it’s also fascinating to understand about the culture of the past. The Ellora Caves are an example of three major religions coexisting in a single complex. While the layout of the caves still keeps each faith together, they are side by side, which is rare to see!
The Ellora Caves have been continuously visited by people for centuries. There are also the famous Ajanta Caves nearby which were abandoned and re-discovered in the 1800s. Many people visit the Ajanta and Ellora Caves in one trip and it’s well worth it.
Planning Your Visit to Ellora Caves
Best Time to Visit Ellora Caves
coolest time of the year. Generally, during the day, it will be around 25°C to 30°C (75°F to 86°F), but cooler at night and in the mornings.
Monsoon season is June through September, so I wouldn’t recommend traveling at that time. It generally rains every day, and if there’s some really heavy rain, it can make getting to and from the caves very difficult. If you do go then, you need to be fully prepared with umbrellas and rain gear, otherwise expect to get soaked!
I would also avoid going in the summer months between March-June. It starts getting very terribly hot and sunny in late March, April, and May. Then the monsoon comes in June. I’m rather good with the heat, but it’s really not at all pleasant this time of year and can affect the experience.
No matter at which time of the year you do end up there, I would suggest trying to go in the mornings and on weekdays if possible to avoid the major tourist crowds.
How to Reach Ellora Caves
One important thing to mention is that most people stay in Aurangabad and then take a day trip to Ellora Caves which is about 45 minutes away by car. Aurangabad is the closest nearby city with many options for hotels and food, and it’s very easy to arrange a taxi to the caves once you’re there (it’s about 1500 INR or $15-20 USD one way).
I would highly recommend that once you get to Aurangabad, you hire a taxi. It’s also common to combine the trip with Ajanta Caves which is about 1.5-2 hours away by car (a little over 2 hours directly from Aurangabad), so having a driver makes it easy to visit whatever places you want and go on your own schedule.
By Plane
The nearest airport to the Ellora Caves is the Aurangabad Airport. It is well-connected to major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Once in Aurangabad, you can get a taxi to drive there.
By Train
You can take trains from major cities like Mumbai and Delhi to Arungabad. This is way cheaper than flying if you are coming from a nearby area. You’ll still need to get a cab from Arungabad to get to the caves.
By Bus
There are frequent buses that run between Aurungabad and Ellora Caves. The bus ride is about 1 hour long. It’s a much cheaper option than hiring a taxi, although as someone who isn’t an expert in navigating the bus systems in India, it’s a little confusing to figure out. It’s also a cheaper way of traveling!
Ellora Caves Timings & Entry Fee
The Ellora Caves are open from 7:00am-5:00pm. For Indians, it’s 40 INR and for foreigners travelers its 600 INR ($7 USD). Any child under 15 can enter for free. You can just arrive and get a ticket at the entrance.
They also list extra charges for cameras, but you don’t actually have to pay that. Just don’t mention it and you can freely take photos with your phone or camera. Maybe if you have a full professional set up with tripods it would be different, but I’m not totally sure!
Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays, but open the rest of the week. If you are planning a trip to Ajanta Caves as well, keep in mind that the Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays.
Ellora Caves Hotels
In Aurangabad, you can find all kinds of stays. They have cheap options for budget travelers and really nice resorts for people who want to have a more luxurious stay. Basically, it’s all about how much money you want to spend!
You can also find super budget options in some of the small towns outside of Aurangabad, especially towards Ajanta. But the options are limited and will be super basic accommodations. If you’re a really low-maintenance traveler looking to save money, then it’d be fine for you!
What to Wear to Ellora Caves (and Packing Tips!)
There is no particular dress code when going to visit the Ellora Caves. I would say, the best way of dressing could be according to the weather. When you visit, it’s likely going to be hot, so light breathable clothing would be ideal. You can also take along sunglasses or hats, and you definitely want to have good shoes to walk in.
Like anywhere you travel in India, you’ll want to dress a bit more modest than in Western countries. I don’t advise short shorts and a low-cut shirt for ladies, but some pants and a tank top are totally fine, or a longer dress. Check out What to Wear in India: A Comprehensive Guide for Travelers for more detailed insights!
I’d recommend bringing a small backpack for water and money, plus some small accessories that you might want. You’ll be outside, so you may want sunscreen. I would suggest getting some snacks—I always have some for the drive.
Exploring Ellora Caves
There’s a map at the entrance of the caves (or you could just Google), but the caves are numbered 1-34 and situated along a path that’s easy to follow. Caves 1-12 are Buddhist caves, 13-19 are Hindu caves and 30-34 are Jain caves. There’s a well-paved path to walk along and a waterfall too! Expect to spend about 2-3 hours exploring.
Guided Tours
If you’re very interested in the history and culture of the Ellora Caves, you might want to arrange to have a guide take you around. There are quite a few private tour companies, so if you are staying in Aurangabad, I would say ask at your hotel as they will often have a connection and it is easy to plan from there. There’s also guides at the entrance of the caves by ticketing.
I never paid for a guided tour while I was there, but I did look up different caves as I was walking through so that I got to know a bit. I’m generally someone who likes exploring at my own pace so didn’t want to be attached to someone else. Of course it’s personal preference and what you would like to get out of the experience. I’m sure you would learn a lot more with a guide!
Highlights of Ellora Caves
The most impressive aspects of the Ellora Caves are the architecture and structures. The caves are interconnected with walkways and terraces. It’s an incredible insight into the skills they had back in that time and that the various religions were coexisting peacefully.
Cave 5
This is a Buddhist cave that is one of the largest in the complex. It’s famous for its architecture and intricate details.
Cave 10
It’s also known as “Vishvakarma Cave” and is another Buddhist cave. It’s a chaitya hall (prayer hall) and has beautiful carvings of Buddha and followers. This one was my favorite of the Buddhist Caves!
Cave 15
This is a Hindu cave known as “Dashavatara Cave.” It has various sculptures of Hindu deities, including the 10 avatars or incarnations of Vishnu, one of the major Gods in Hinduism.
Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple)
Cave 16 is probably the most famous part of Ellora Caves. It’s the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world! Like the name suggests, it’s modeled after Mount Kailasa and has elaborate carvings. It’s a multistoried temple complex and even has life-sized elephant statues. This is by the entrance of Ellora Caves.
Cave 21
This is a Hindu cave which has beautiful carvings of various deities. It has figurines of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance.
Cave 32
This is the largest Jain cave which is known as the Indra Sabha (Assembly of Indra, the god of rain). It’s a two-storied cave with carvings of Jain deities, including Mahavira and Parshvanatha. The lower part is also covered with carvings of lotus flowers and other decorative designs.
Cave 34
Cave 34 is a small Jain cave but it has detailed carvings of the Tirthankaras, or spiritual teachers, which are quite impressive. There’s also a seated figure of Mahavira, who was the last Tirthankara and preached Jainism in ancient India.
Recommended Itinerary for Ellora Caves (and Ajanta Caves)
I recommend staying in Aurangabad for at least 2 full days. You can spend one day on a trip to the Ellora Caves, which is about 45 minutes away. On the other day, you can visit the Ajanta Caves which is a 1.5-2 hour drive from Aurangabad.
Ajanta and Ellora Caves can be done in a day, and you can get tours with that included, but I feel it’s better to break them up. There’s quite a bit of walking, so it’s just a much better experience to go at a leisurely pace. That’s my personal preference at least!
Nearby Places to Visit
Ajanta Caves – This is a MUST!
The Ajanta Caves are another UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Ellora Caves. They are actually more famous and popular, but most travelers will visit both sites if they are in the area because they are so near each other.
The Ajanta Caves are also ancient rock-cut caves. They are most famous for their incredible paintings, while Ellora Caves are more known for their architecture. There are colorful and detailed murals and it’s really impressive how well you can still see some of them even hundreds of years later! There’s also a viewpoint that overlooks the caves along a river which is a nice stop.
These are other nearby attractions that are worth mentioning if you have the extra time in Aurangabad.
Daulatabad Fort
The Daulatabad Fort, dating back to the 14th century, is quite interesting to look around. It’s a nice view into history and a good way to spend a couple of extra hours in Aurangabad.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
The Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad is also known as the “Mini Taj Mahal.” It was built in the 17th century by Aurangzeb’s son in memory of his mother and is one of the beautiful examples of Mughal architecture.
Panchakki (Water Mill)
This is an ingeniously designed water mill from the medieval period. It’s known for its underground water channel which powers the mill and was made to grind grain for pilgrims. It could be a quick place to visit and see while in Aurangabad if you’re interested.
Aurangabad Caves
If you’ve seen the Ajanta and Ellora caves, then the Aurangabad Caves won’t be too impressive. There are 12 caves with the similar rock-cut style used by Buddhists. But, if you have the time and are interested, check it out!
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Grishneshwar Temple is located near the Ellora Caves. According to a sacred Hindu book, Shiva Purana, it is one of the twelve very important Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva who is one of the major deities in Hinduism. The temple is famous for its architecture and many people go for pilgrimages there.
This post was all about Ellora Caves.
