Ellora Caves

Why in News?

Recently, the historian William Dalrymple has urged the Maharashtra government to highlight the lesser-known treasures of the Ellora Caves, beyond the famous Kailasa Temple.

• Location – Charanandri Hills, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
• It is among India’s 1^st UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Timeline – Excavated between 600–1000 AD, showcasing continuous artistic and religious activity.
• Belief – Buddhism, Hinduism (Brahmanism), and Jainism — illustrating religious tolerance in ancient India.
• Extent – 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff, stretching over more than 2 km (17 Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist and 5 Jain).
  • Buddhist caves (1–12) – Excavated from 5^th–8^th centuries - Both Mahayana and Hinayana.
  • Hindu (Brahmanism) caves (13–29) - 7^th–10^th centuries.
  • Jain caves (30–34) - 9^th–12^th centuries, with delicate carvings and paintings dedicated to the Digambara sect.
• Managed by – Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Protected under – Multiple acts, including the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958).
• Features –
  • Rock-cut architecture – The structures were created by carving into the rock face, rather than stacking stones.
  • Monolithic Architecture – Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) is the world's largest monolithic structure, carved top-down from a single rock and resembling Mount Kailash.
  • Multi-story Caves – Features double and triple-story caves, showcasing a unique design.
  • Patronage – Patrons included the Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas, with guilds from states like Vidarbha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu also contributing.
  • Art and Sculpture – Includes elaborate sculptures and fresco murals, such as the Kailashnath Temple, depicting mythological scenes.
• Some important caves -

Quick Fact

References

1. The Hindu | Unknown treasures at Ellora Caves
2. UNESCO | Ellora Caves