Ellora Caves
MONUMENTS OF INDIA – ELLORA CAVES
Ellora Caves is located in Ellora, 30 km from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra built by the Rashtrakuta rulers. Ellora caves are monumental caves, and are a World Heritage Site. Ellora represents the epitome of rock-cut architecture (Indian). It is also an archaeological site.
These caves also have other Hindu caves like Rameshvara (Cave 21), which has figurines of river Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance and the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29) whose design is similar to the cave temple on Elephanta Island near Mumbai. And two other caves, the Ravan ki Khai (Cave 14) and Nilkantha (Cave 22). The rest of the Hindu caves, which include the Kumbharvada (Cave 25) and Gopilena (Cave 27) are also present there.
The Ellora Caves have 34 caves, actual structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills – being Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock temples and monasteries. 12 Buddhist and 17 Hindu and 5 Jain caves are built in proximity, and demonstrate the religious harmony during its period of Indian history.