| Vehicle type Tempo |
The Ellora caves were carved between 350 AD and 700 AD. The caves
have a universal significance as they represent an amalgam of the
pantheon of India gods and goddesses. Ellora is a centre of
Tantarism and magical and occult practices can be observed here.
There are 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu temples and 5 Jain temples.
The Buddhist caves date back between 200 BC to 600 AD. The Hindu
temples date back from about 500 AD to 900 while the temples
representing Jainism date from about 800 AD to 1000 AD. Among the
three groups of structures, the Hindu caves are the most
beautifully designed.
Architecture
Spreading over an area of 1 mile ( 2 km), the Ellora caves are a
collection of thirty-four magnificent rock-carved temples. The
temples are carved out of basaltic cliffs. The Hindu caves are
the most elaborately designed. Cave 16 is called Kailasa for its
location in the Kailas range of the Himalayas. In this cave
resides the Hindu God Shiva. This cave was built in during the
rulership of Krishna I ( about 756- 773). The Kailasa cave is
known all over for its brilliant architecture and its elaborate
workmanship. Cave 12 is a Buddhist cave and is also known as
Tintala. The most fascinating fact about the cave is that this
3-storey structure has been carved out of a solid rock.