Ellor caves. Cave Temples of Ellora. Buddhist temples of Ellora
The world-famous cave temples of Ellora are located 30 kilometers from Aurangabad. Thanks to their good preservation and amazing size, the caves attract tourists from all over the world. It is the cave temples of Ellora and Ajanta that fill the hotels of the city of Aurangabad to the eyeballs.
Caves in Ellora can compete with such recognized wonders of the world as Egyptian pyramids, Cambodian Angkor Wat, etc. The entire cave complex, consisting of 34 caves, is listed by UNESCO and is jealously guarded by this respected organization.
All cave temples in Ellora can be divided into several groups, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and separately from all the Kailasa temple (Kailasa Temple cave 16). For the convenience of tourists, all the caves are numbered and have information plates (in English), so there should be no problems finding the necessary caves.
History of the caves of Ellora
On the issue of the origin and expediency of building cave temples, scientific discussions are constantly ongoing, and today there are several theories about why ordinary mortals gnawed such beauty out of the rock.
It is believed that the cave temples of Ellora were built on the path of a major trade route, and in close proximity to today's Daulatabad, in the vicinity of which there are also Buddhist caves. Successful merchants donated part of their profits to the construction of temples, which could only contribute to the prosperity of their trade.
The fact of tolerance is surprising, because the three beliefs coexisted perfectly side by side and led economic activity, so some caves were originally intended for one religious branch, they could easily be rebuilt for the needs of another religion and no one fought.
There are 34 caves in Ellora, 12 Buddhist, built between 600 and 800 AD, 17 Hindu, built between 600 and 900 AD. and only 5 Jain, built in the period from 800 to 1000 AD.
If you look deep into history, Ellora clearly demonstrates the period of the revival of Hinduism during the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties, followed by the decline of Buddhism in India. What is characteristic is the Jain temples in Ellora, there are only 5 of them, but there could be much more, because the authorities actively supported this religious trend.
All caves on the territory of the complex are numbered, the numbering starts from south side(Buddhist caves), the first cave numbers are located on the right side of the Kailash temple, which is immediately opposite the entrance.
most grand building in Ellora is the temple of Kailash - this is an imitation of Mount Kailash in the Himalayas, on which, according to legend, the god Shiva lives. Photos unique temple Kailash can be found anywhere tourist guide across India, but live the temple strikes even more.
12 Buddhist caves are located south of the Kailash temple and many of them look very simple and do not arouse admiration, but cave number 10 stands apart, it is considered the most beautiful Buddhist cave in all of India. Be sure to visit cave number 10.
Hindu caves are so emotional (for example, the same Kailash temple) that you immediately distinguish them from all the others. Another distinguishing feature of Hindu caves is the presence of phallic lingams, characteristic features of the presence of the god Shiva. Most of the Hindu caves at Ellora were carved from top to bottom, so the ancient builders did not use any scaffolding.
For 60 days.
For citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the total cost with all fees = 8300 rub.
For citizens of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia = 7000 rub
Perhaps the monks who left Ajanta moved to Ellora? It coincides in time - Ajanta was empty in the 7th century, and at the same time magnificent Hindu temples began to be built in Ellora.
Ellora(like Ajanta) is a complex of cave temples and monasteries. Along mountain range For two kilometers there are 34 caves:
Nos. 1 - 12 - Buddhist (6-8 centuries)
Nos. 13 - 29 - Hindu (7th-9th centuries)
Nos. 30 - 34 - Jain (9th century)
Read also:
One day, at the beginning of the 19th century, a British officer decided to hunt a tiger ...
But instead of a tiger, he discovered Ajanta...
Read also:
Probably, there is not a single country in the world in which there would be so many diverse temples as in India.
Ellora, Kailasanath Temple
The most impressive and stunning was the Kailasanath Temple. It was built for about 150 years. Or rather, “erected” in this case is not a very suitable word, because it did not grow up, but down. It was cut from above. It's hard to imagine - a person climbs a high basalt mountain and from above it begins to cut off everything superfluous that is not a temple.
All its walls are covered with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Indian mythology. The area of the temple is about 2 thousand square meters, such a grandiose monolithic stone statue. It is located inside the mountain, in a huge hollowed out depression. I highly recommend climbing up to look at this miracle from there, especially at sunset.
The caves of Ellora are not illuminated like the temples of Ajanta, and in the depths such interesting sculptures It doesn't hurt to bring a flashlight with you.
Some caves are small, others are huge three-story with many columns.
Living ancient statues look at you from the twilight. Each wall and each column is decorated with stone carvings.
You walk and wander under the impression from one cave to another among stone gods and mythical creatures.
Hindu caves even feel very different from Buddhist ones. If
Buddhist suppress their huge size, asceticism, severity,
static and impassiveness of meditating buddhas and bodhisattvas, then in the Hindu life is in full swing: the gods dance, love, fight demons, play weddings, passions and movement are everywhere.
Buddhist viharas (monasteries). Here the monks meditated, performed their rituals, living in small cells located around the perimeter of the temple.
We did not have enough for Ellora one day, and the next morning we came here again. This second day turned out to be even more amazing: we got to the top, where there are no tourists (all hiking trails pass below).
At the top there are several soulful deserted caves where local sadhus come to meditate, and a small river flows, which ends further below with a waterfall.
Up here, in rocky depressions, it forms small lakes in which you can even swim! What a pleasure it is! We were partying in cool clear water until a local boy tracked us down and brought a gang of his friends. It's good that we noticed them from afar. I had to jump out of the water and quickly dress behind a large stone.
Langurs also live in Ellora. We sat in the shade and watched as they rushed in a large crowd through the green grass. There were many of them, they frolicked and enjoyed life. And on the side under big tree Langur's grandparents were sitting and, with imperturbable calmness, watched the youngsters frolic.
The best time to visit Ellora and Ajanta is November - February.
And further. Don't repeat our mistakes. We arrived by train in Jalgaon, left things in the storage room at the railway station, hit the bus to Ajanta, returned to Jalgaon for things, went to Aurangabad, checked into a hotel and from there went to Ellora.
Everything can be done much easier.
From Jalgaon straight with things to Ajanta. There you can leave them in the vending shop. Wander through the caves. And from Ajanta - straight to Ellora.
In this video you can take a closer look Ellora, its temples and monasteries.
Previous photo Next photo
India is a country with amazing rich history And original culture, its spiritual and material wealth found its reflection, in particular, in the cave temple complexes of Ajanta and Ellora. Throughout the year, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the central Indian state of Maharashtra to look at the temples of unsurpassed beauty, carved into huge rocks and lavishly decorated with wall frescoes, carved columns and numerous sculptures.
If Ajanta is famous for its extraordinary painting, which tells about secular life India, then Ellora is a treasure trove of unique bas-reliefs carved into the rocks, which conceal the centuries-old wisdom of Indian mythology.
How to get there
How to get to Ellora by regular bus from Aurangabad, the road will take not more than an hour. Entrance to each temple is paid separately, the most expensive entrance ticket costs about five US dollars. The complex is closed to visitors on Tuesdays.
Search for flights to Mumbai (nearest airport to Maharashtra)
A bit of history
Ellora is a whole complex of cave temples of the three most popular religious and philosophical movements in India: Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. They were created in the 6th-11th centuries AD, there is an opinion that the monks who left Ajanta moved here. Unlike the latter, Ellora has a more advantageous location, routes of national importance pass in the immediate vicinity, the most noble persons and representatives of the ruling dynasty of India often came here for a visit.
Since the temples of Ellora were erected in a completely different historical era, already under the rule of the Rashtrakutas, who had no small influence on the world political arena and possessed truly untold wealth, they can boast of a more complex structure and indescribable beauty of decorative design.
Kailasanath temple
The most impressive of all the temples of Ellora is undoubtedly Kailasanatha. It took a whole century and a half to create it, because the temple is completely carved into the rock, and its total area is about two thousand square meters. Kailasanatha, as it were, rises above all other temples, and symbolizes one of the Himalayan peaks sacred to many religions - Kailash, which is considered the spiritual center of the entire universe. It was on this mountain that the supreme god in Hinduism, Shiva, sat, therefore Kailasanatha is dedicated to him. There are many statues of deities, images from Indian mythology, skillfully carved in stone.
The facade and inner walls of the temple are generously decorated with bas-reliefs depicting plots of Indian myths; they are, as it were, protected from outside influences by a huge wall, completely covered with relief images. The scene of Shiva's battle with the personification of the forces of evil - Ravana is simply mesmerizing.
The sculptor so accurately conveyed all the features of the characters that even an uninitiated person can easily interpret the events captured in stone. These bas-reliefs look especially grandiose in the rays of the setting sun.
Due to the special composition rock the temple has been perfectly preserved to this day, moreover, in some places you can find the remains of white paint, which once covered the walls, which gave Kailasanath a special resemblance to a snow-capped peak. At its foot, statues of lions and elephants are carved, and the elephants are placed in such a way that only three elephants are visible from the side of the facade, on the backs of which, according to mythology, the world is kept.
Caves of Ellora and Ajanta
Tin Thal Temple
Kailasanatha is considered the largest monolithic stone sculpture. But still, the central temple of Ellora is usually called Tin Thal, it has three floors and is one of the largest cave temples in the world. Concerning architectural features Tin-Thala. Here everything is done extremely simply and restrainedly. The sixteen-meter facade is decorated only with powerful square columns arranged in three rows, followed by a small rectangular courtyard, the entrance to which, crowned with a pretty narrow gate carved into the rock. A stone staircase leads directly to the huge halls, the vaults of which are supported by massive square columns. In the depths of each of them are grandiose statues, covered in twilight. All this ascetic simplicity and monumentality makes an indelible impression on those present.
rameshwara temple
The Rameshvara temple is somewhat inferior in size, but it can compete in the richness of the interior design. Here, every centimeter of the walls is decorated with elegant stone carvings, and massive columns are decorated in the same way. When you get here, you find yourself in the mysterious and all-consuming world of Indian mythology, from the walls looking at you are mythical creatures carved from stone, masterfully inscribed in scenes from the most important legends of Ancient India. It is easy to recognize the Rameshvara temple by its unusual facade with elegant carvings and columns in the form of standing girls.
Jain cave temples
It is also interesting to visit the Jain cave temples, there are only three of them, but they are also decorated with carvings and skillful bas-reliefs depicting Mahavir, the founder of Jain philosophy, as well as majestic lions and lotuses.
The ancient rock temples of Ellora are one of the most amazing creations of mankind, a monument to the creative imagination and skill of the ancient builders. In terms of its scale and beauty, Ellora is not inferior to the most famous religious buildings planet and is an example of religious tolerance of the Indians, where the three main Indian religions peacefully coexist - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Since 1983, Ellora has been included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO.
Rock-cut temples of Ellora are magnificent examples of art ancient india, combining the artistic styles of southern and northern India and the influence of foreign cultures.
History and religions
Ellora is located in the central part of India, in the state of Maharashtra, away from the popular tourist routes and the legendary treasures of the Golden Triangle. In the same area is the Ajanta cave complex, known throughout the world for its magnificent frescoes.
Ellora - shortened form old name Elapura. In ancient times, Elapura was an important shopping mall Dakkana, the trade route to Dakshinapatha passed through it - southern regions modern India.
The temples of Ellora were erected in a mountainous area located on the plateau of the Deccan, which is called the Deccan traps. Traps appeared as a result of a large volcanic activity and are huge basalt formations, which are characterized by sheer cliffs and cliffs. Such rocky slopes have become perfect place for secluded cave monasteries of Buddhist communities. Over time, the monasteries grew, the flow of pilgrims increased, and with it the donations, on which new temples, cells of monks and temporary shelters for pilgrims were built.
The first temples of Ellora appeared during the reign of the Vakataka dynasty, whose kings were known as patrons of the arts, literature and architecture. Although the Vakatakas were adherents of Hinduism, they sponsored works in the Buddhist Ajanta for several centuries. According to another version, Ellora owes the first temples to the rulers of two Hindu dynasties - the oldest of the Hindu caves were built by the Kalachuri kings, and the Buddhist ones by the Chalukyas.
In general, little is known about the history of the early cave temples of Ellora, since after the decline of the Vakataka dynasty, religious complexes for some time lost serious support from the rulers. They owe their appearance more to nameless merchants and ignoble people who made feasible donations for the construction of temples, without leaving any records about it.
In the 7th-8th centuries Buddhism gradually lost its importance in the region. The revival of Hinduism began, and this is clearly seen in the example of Ellora, where Hindu caves were actively built, and some Buddhist sanctuaries were converted into Hindu temples.
Among the followers of Hinduism in Ellora, the cult of Shiva dominated, so in many caves you can see lingas and numerous images of Shiva-Maheshvara. The most significant cave of Ellora at number 16 is also dedicated to Shiva. The entire pantheon of gods and numerous scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita are presented on its walls. Also in Ellora, another branch of Hinduism is represented - Vaishnavism, a feature of which is the worship of Krishna, Rama and other incarnations of the god Vishnu. In cave 26 you can see amazing sculptural images of Krishna, Subhadra, Balarama.
In the 9th century, Jain caves also appeared in Ellora. Jainism found in Ellora a favorable atmosphere of religious tolerance and prosperity. The Ellora Jains were followers of the Tirthankaras (enlightened spiritual teachers) Sumatinatha, Parshvanatha and Gomateshwara.
The builders of the Jain temples of Ellora created their own style, which absorbed character traits Buddhist and Hindu architectural traditions.
According to contemporaries, Ellora was actively used until the 13th century, until the conquest of the Deccan by the Delhi Sultanate. Buddhist monks lived here until the 10th century, and work in the Jain temples continued until the middle of the 13th century. Although since then Ellora has not been used as religious center, she was not forgotten, like Machu Picchu or others famous buildings antiquities. There were Arab and European travelers who left descriptions of Ellora in their travel notes.
In XV-XVII, the caves were repeatedly desecrated by Muslim fanatics, and many statues, bas-reliefs and architectural elements were seriously damaged, but in general the monument was well preserved. Now Ellora is under the protection of UNESCO and the Archaeological Survey of India and, together with Ajanta, is the main attraction of the Maharashtra region.
Timeline of construction of the temples of Ellora
Despite the undeniable artistic and religious significance Ellora, there is practically no exact information about her history. With a few exceptions, not only the exact dates of the creation of most temples, but even the centuries during which they were created, remain a mystery. Only in three caves (15, 21 and 31) were inscriptions found that give researchers at least some clue to this mystery.
It is believed that the temples of Ellora were created in the period from the 5th to the 13th century AD. In the course of research, historians and archaeologists found that most of the caves are located in separate groups: 1-12, 14-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-28, 32-34, and there are large separate monuments - caves 29 and 30 The numbers were assigned to the caves in accordance with the approximate chronology of construction and are divided into three groups according to the religion to which they were dedicated - Buddhist (1-12), Hindu (13-29) and Jain (30-34).
Researchers identify three important periods in the history of the complex:
- the early Hindu period (VI century), when the construction of the first caves was carried out under the auspices of the Hindu dynasties Vakataka and Kalachuri;
- the Buddhist period (VI century - early VIII century) under the rule of the Hindu Chalukya dynasty;
- late Hindu and Jain period (beginning of the 8th century - 10th century), when temples were built by the Hindu dynasties Rashtrakuta, later - Yadava.
Of the twelve Buddhist temples, caves 1-10 form a separate group. Caves 1-3 and 5 are rather simple and most likely belong to the earliest period. Judging by the style of individual elements, caves 2 and 3 can be dated to the 6th century, while caves 1 and 5 were built even earlier. Judging by the inscription on the base of one of the statues in cave 12, caves 4, 6-9 were created in the 6th-7th centuries. Cave 10 was built much later, in the 8th-9th centuries, as evidenced by a short inscription on one of its columns.
The group of Hindu temples is divided into several subgroups. Caves 17-19, 21,25-29 were presumably built in the 6th-7th centuries. Cave 15 was probably originally Buddhist, judging by several Buddha-like figures adorning the frieze above the first row of columns on the second floor. This cave contains an illegible inscription from the time of the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga (circa 733-757) and a copper offering bowl that belonged to this king. However, historically, this temple dates back to the reign of Krishna I (757-773), and its parts, such as the shrines of Lankeshvara and Nadidevatas, date back to an even later period.
In architecture famous cave 16 one can feel the influence of styles belonging to different periods. So, main temple can be attributed to the middle of the 8th century, while the shrines of Lankeshvara and Nadidevatas and the sculptural bas-reliefs at the back of the monument appeared in the 8th-9th centuries.
The inscription in cave 21 is written in the letters of the ancient Kannada alphabet, which was in use in the 6th-7th centuries, and serves as indirect evidence that work on this temple began in the era of the formation of the Chalukya dynasty. This temple is considered the oldest among all the Hindu caves of Ellora.
The earliest of the Jain temples is Cave 30, which dates back to the first half of the 9th century. Cave 32 was being worked on around the same time, or just a few years later. Caves 31 and 33 date back to the 9th-10th centuries. Other small temples were built much later, for example, on a steep hillside above the Jain caves, a huge image of Parsvanatha was carved, which was made by a nobleman named Chakreshvara in 1234.
Architecture of cave temples
All the cave temples of Ellora, from the facade to the elements of interior decoration, are hollowed out in a basalt rock cliff and, in fact, are huge monolithic sculptures. The Ellora complex includes 34 caves located on the slopes of the Chamadiri cliff for 2.4 kilometers. Buddhist temples (caves 1-12) are located in the south, Jain temples (caves 30-34) are located in the northern part at some distance, and Hindu temples (caves 13-29) are located in the center. In the center of the complex is architectural gem India and the most significant temple of Ellora is Cave 16, or Kailasnatha.
The caves were carved in two ways: in the direction from the cliff wall deep into the rock and vertically, from top to bottom. In the first case, a hole was cut through the rock wall, through which the builders, gouging the rock, descended to the floor level and expanded the room, leaving pieces of rock in places, from which sculptures, friezes and columns were later carved.
The second method was that the rock was hollowed out from top to bottom, giving the shape of buildings, columns, sculptures and other architectural elements. With this method, the builders had no right to make a mistake, and the efforts spent on the work were truly colossal. So, it is estimated that during the construction of the Kailash temple, about 400 thousand tons of solid rock were hollowed out, and the period of work exceeded one hundred years.
Buddhist temples of Ellora
After the decline of Pitalkhora, Nasik and other Buddhist cave complexes of the Deccan, the Buddhist community moved to the vicinity of Aurangabad and settled near the village of Ellora (in those days - Elapura). In the 5th-7th centuries, Buddhists had a huge influence in this region. IN VIII-X centuries under the onslaught of the resurgent Hinduism, Buddhism gradually lost ground, and by the twelfth century came to a final decline.
Basically, the Buddhist caves of Ellora are viharas - rooms where the monks slept and ate, and spent time in meditation and prayer. The exception is cave 10, which is made in the form of a chaitya - a huge prayer hall. Caves 1-5, which until recently were considered the oldest in Ellora, are typical examples of the early Buddhist style, ascetic, without unnecessary details, sometimes even without statues and decorations. Over time, the architecture became more and more complex, the decoration became more luxurious, the temples included residential and office premises located on several floors.
The last of the Buddhist temples, Caves 11 and 12 are the largest Buddhist caves in India. These monasteries testify to the flourishing of the Mahayana teachings, in particular his Vajrayana tantric direction, which gained great popularity in this region by the 8th century.
If you want to get to know the history of the ruling dynasties and religious cults of the country better, the preserved architectural monuments that clearly tell about the greatness of ancient empires will help you do this. Certainly one of the most important ancient history are the cave temples of India, which served as a refuge and the main center of learning for the followers of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from the beginning of our era.
The most famous and well-preserved cave temples are located in the state of Maharashtra near the city of Aurangabad - ancient capital the Mughal empire. Long before the arrival of the Mongol conquerors, this region was the center of the development of trade and religion. ancient trade routes passed through the plains of the Deccan, and the pilgrims found refuge in the caves, which were rebuilt as spiritual abodes.
I want to talk about the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora - the true gems of ancient Indian art and architecture. Even at the beginning of our era, there were trade routes along the territory of the Deccan plateau (the modern state of Maharashtra), along with traders, the first Buddhist ascetics went, carrying their faith to the territory of southern India.
To escape from the seasonal rains and the scorching sun, travelers needed shelters. The construction of monasteries and temples is a long and costly business, so the first pilgrims chose caves in rocky mountains, which gave coolness and heat and remained dry during the rainy season.
The first Buddhist caves were carved in the 2nd century BC, when they were simple and uncomplicated shelters. Later, at the turn of the 4th-6th centuries, the cave temple complexes grew into huge monastic cities, where hundreds of monks lived, and the caves turned into three-story monasteries, skillfully decorated with sculptures and wall paintings.
IN cave cities Ajanta and Ellora consistently professed three religions - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Now on the territory of the complexes you can see ancient statues and wall paintings of these three religions. So, the first inhabitants cave cities there were Buddhists, then Hindus came, and the last to be carved out were Jain temples, although it is possible that followers of all religions coexisted here at the same time, creating a tolerant religious society in the middle of the first millennium.
The cave temple complex of Ajanta is located 100 kilometers from the city of Aurangabad, it is located in the bed of the Waghor River and was cut down from the 2nd century BC to the middle of the 7th century AD. For centuries, ancient sculptors methodically removed soil from basalt rock, and the interior of the caves was decorated with elegant sculptures and frescoes.
At the end of the 5th century, the Harishena dynasty, which was the main sponsor of the construction of the caves, fell, and the complex was gradually abandoned. The monks left their secluded abode, and locals gradually forgot about the existence of cave temples. The jungle swallowed the caves, walling up the entrances with a thick layer of vegetation. An artificial microclimate was formed in the caves, which has preserved to our times the frescoes of the beginning of the first millennium, which have no analogues not only in India, but throughout the world. Thus, the caves have brought the beauty of ancient masters to our days.
The complex was discovered by British Army officer John Smith in 1819 while hunting for a tiger. From the opposite bank of the Waghor River, he saw the archway of the entrance to Cave No. 10.
Now it is one of the most famous sights. central India. On this moment in the complex you can visit 28 caves belonging to the Buddhist tradition. In caves 1,2,9,11,16,17, ancient frescoes have been preserved, and in caves 9,10,19,26 you will see elegant Buddhist sculpture.
Some caves served as a place for performing rituals and group prayers, they are called "chatya", or meeting rooms, others served as the dwelling place of the monks, they are called "vihara", or monasteries. The caves have different layouts and decorations.
Some caves are under development, these examples clearly show how the complex was built. From the opposite bank of the Waghor River opens beautiful view for the whole complex, the scale of the complex is really impressive.
Previously, each cave had its own personal descent to the river for a fence drinking water, a system was developed to store rainwater and watercourse during the monsoon period. The walls of most of the caves were painted with detailed frescoes, the secret of which has not yet been unraveled. Separate well-preserved sections convince us of the high level of skill of ancient painters, and before our eyes forgotten history and customs of those times.
Of course, visiting the cave temples of Ajanta will create one of the most interesting experiences in India, but it will not be complete without a visit to the Ellora complex, which is located nearby. Despite the fact that both complexes are similar in concept, they are completely different in execution.
The cave temple complex of Ellora, located 30 kilometers from Aurangabad, was cut down in the period from the 5th to the 11th century and has 34 caves, 12 of which are Buddhist (1-12), 17 Hindu caves (13-29) and 5 Jain caves (30 -34), cut down in chronological order.
If the Ajanta complex is famous for its frescoes, then in 34 caves temple complex Ellora is definitely a sculpture. Ellora acquired a true dawn with the withering of Ajanta, apparently most of the monks and masters moved here starting from the 6th century AD. In Ellora, the viewer is struck by the scale of the buildings, for example, some caves are three-story "viharas" - monasteries where up to several hundred monks could live. Of course, such a scale is amazing, especially considering that the dates of construction refer to the 5th-7th centuries of our era.
But the true pearl of the complex is the temple of Kailasanath (the lord of Kailash), or cave No. 16. This 30-meter temple was carved for 100 years during the eighth century. For its construction, 400,000 tons of rock basalt rock were extracted, while not a single detail was brought into the temple from the outside, everything was cut out in rock basalt rock from top to bottom, as on a modern 3-D printer.
Of course, nothing like this in India simply does not exist. This masterpiece ancient architecture stands on a par with the temples in Cambodia, Java and the temple complex in Burma, only it was built almost a millennium earlier.
The temple is an allegory sacred mountain Kailash in Tibet, where, according to legend, Lord Shiva was in meditation. Previously, the entire temple was covered with white plaster in order to resemble snow-capped peak Kailash, all the sculptures were skillfully painted with colors, the details of which can be seen even now, many galleries of the temple are decorated with detailed stone carvings. To understand the greatness of the Kailasanath temple, you need to see it with your own eyes, photographs can hardly convey its grandeur and beauty.
The temples of Ajanta and Ellora attract many tourists from India and all over the world, on holidays it can be quite crowded, and in order to better understand the history in stone, it is recommended to take a tour with a guide. It is better to choose the city of Aurangabad as a base for visiting the temples, there are many hotels for every taste and budget, you can get here by train, plane or bus from Mumbai or Goa.
A visit to the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora is definitely one of the most vivid and memorable experiences in India. A trip to Aurangabad is easy to make in three days, visiting the cave temples will be a great addition to relaxing on the beaches of Goa.
