In the 8th century the builders of the Kailasa Temple began not from the ground up but from the top down, carving into a basalt hillside and removing 200,000 tonnes of rock to reveal a freestanding temple complex twice the size of the Parthenon. Seven thousand labourers worked for 150 years to complete it. The Ellora Caves tour takes you through the largest monolithic excavation in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 34 caves carved by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain craftsmen between the 5th and 10th centuries. Your expert guide brings the iconography, the engineering and the art history to life across every cave. Private car from Aurangabad, expert cultural guide, all entry fees and v...
Highlights
6 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
6 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Indian vegetarian
Private car
Entrance charges
Guide
Important Information
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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We pick up at the time the tour starts at 9 am
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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In the 8th century the builders of the Kailasa Temple began not from the ground up but from the top down, carving into a basalt hillside and removing 200,000 tonnes of rock to reveal a freestanding temple complex twice the size of the Parthenon. Seven thousand labourers worked for 150 years to complete it. The Ellora Caves tour takes you through the largest monolithic excavation in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 34 caves carved by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain craftsmen between the 5th and 10th centuries. Your expert guide brings the iconography, the engineering and the art history to life across every cave. Private car from Aurangabad, expert cultural guide, all entry fees and v...
Highlights
6 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
6 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Indian vegetarian
Private car
Entrance charges
Guide
Itinerary
1
Shri Kailasa Temple, Ellora
The most impressive cave at Ellora is Number 16 called the Kailasa Cave. Built to resemble Mount Kailash, the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva, Cave 16 is a free standing Temple complex and the largest single monolithic excavation in the world. Kailasa was built by Krishna I (757–773) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Kaliasa is twice the size of Parthenon in Athens and was built by 7,000 laborers over 150 years.
2 hours
2
Ellora Caves
Verul Leni, better known as Ellora Caves are one of the finest specimens of rock cut architecture in India. Located near the Indian City of Aurangabad, Ellora Caves are a set of 34 caves excavated out of the Charanandri hills. This UNESCO world heritage site has a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves. Built between 5th and 10th century, Ellora caves are located on an ancient trade route and hence unlike the Ajanta Caves were never lost and have always been frequented over the years.
1 hour
3
Ellora
Cave 10 also called Dashavatara is another splendid specimen of rock cut sculpture. It has an open court with a free-standing monolithic “mandapa” at the middle and a two-storeyed excavated temple at the rear. A must see relief in Dashavatara is the one depicting the death of Hiranyakashipu, by Lord Narasimha the Man-Lion avatar of Vishnu.
1 hour
4
Aurangabad
It will take 1 hour each way to Ellora from Aurangabad
