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| Caves
of India > Ellora Caves |
| Location
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Aurangabad |
| State
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Maharashtra |
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Nestled
in the crook of the Charanadari hill in
Deccan is a series of ancient temples and
monasteries hewn out of the moutainside. Situated on the
ancient north- south trade route or the dakshinapatha, the
tiny mountain village of Verul - mutated today to Ellora
-was a well- known stopover for traders, priests and pilgrims
who plied the route to the western ports.
Beginning sometime in the 7th century, when the Chalukyas
(AD 553 - 753) ruled the Deccan, these wayfarers decided
to make their presence permanent. And excavation started
on a number of Buddhist chaityas and viharas. The place
found favour with missionaries of other faiths as well,
and over the next five centuries, Hindus and Jains also
built their temples in the rocks there.
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Unlike
the caves at Ajanta, the Ellora caves were never 'lost'.
Largely because it lay on a more frequented route,
Ellora remained in the public eye. In fact, Kailasa
Temple remained a practising shrine until the 19th
century. |
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Several travellers to India including the 10th century
Arab geographer Al Masudi and Niccolao. Manucci in
early 17th century mention the caves in their accounts. |
The
Caves |
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There
are 34 caves, of which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and
5 Jain. The caves all face west, so are best seen
in the afternoon. The Buddhist caves are to your far
right as you face the curve of the Charanadari Hill,
then come the Hindu ones, and finally, the Jain cave
temples to the far left. |
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