Maharashtra · India
Ellora
A UNESCO World Heritage marvel — 34 rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves in one basalt cliff, crowned by the astonishing Kailasa Temple carved top-down from a single rock.
Ellora is India's rock-cut masterpiece: the monolithic Kailasa Temple, side-by-side Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga nearby, and Paithani-silk country around.
Plan your trip
Ellora Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Ellora Photo Spots
Medium crowdEntry Included
Buddhist Caves (1–12)
- Best timeLate afternoon, when the sun comes through the arched window of Cave 10 and lights the Buddha; early morning for empty halls.
- ColorsSaffronOchreCream
High crowdEntry Ticketed
Ellora Caves
- Best timeEarly morning, before the tour coaches, when the cliff is in soft shade; late afternoon, when low sun lights the west-facing cave fronts.
- ColorsRustOchreCream
High crowdEntry Free
Grishneshwar Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when the carved tower is in soft light and the queue is short; evening, when the lamps are lit for aarti.
- ColorsSaffronRedWhite
Medium crowdEntry Included
Jain Caves (30–34)
- Best timeLate morning, when the Indra Sabha courtyard is bright and the tour groups are still at Kailasa; late afternoon for warm light on the carved fronts.
- ColorsCreamOchreMaroon
High crowdEntry Ticketed
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)
- Best timeEarly morning, when the courtyard is quiet and in soft shade; late afternoon, when the low sun lights the west-facing front of the temple.
- ColorsRustCreamSaffron
For the feed
Trending Wear in Ellora
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Ellora Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Before you go
Temples in Ellora
Darshan hours, dress codes and what gets refused at the gate
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Ellora
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Ellora
Representative photoBhoj Thali
Aurangabad
Representative photoHotel Kailas Restaurant
Ellora
Representative photoMadhuban Restaurant
Ellora Road
Representative photoTandoor Restaurant
Aurangabad
One cliff, three faiths
Ellora is the village of Verul, at the foot of a long basalt ridge about 30 km north-west of Aurangabad, which was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023. Along roughly 2 km of that ridge, people carved the 34 caves that are open today: twelve Buddhist caves at the southern end, seventeen Hindu caves in the middle and five Jain caves to the north. Most were cut between the 6th and 10th centuries, and the three faiths sit side by side. The whole site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Kailasa comes first
Most people come for Kailasa Temple, Cave 16. It is not really a cave. It is a complete Shiva temple cut downwards out of the hillside in the 8th century, with a gateway, a Nandi pavilion, life-size stone elephants and a tower about 32 m high. Give it two hours, and climb to the rim of the pit for the view from above. Then choose a direction: the Buddhist caves to the south, with the great prayer hall of Cave 10, or the Jain caves to the north, which are quieter and finely carved. Seeing the whole complex properly takes most of a day.
Plan around Tuesday
Ellora is closed every Tuesday. Ajanta, about 100 km away, is closed on Mondays, so plan the two together. The caves open early and close around sunset; check the current ASI hours before you go. Be at the gate at opening time. By late morning, school groups and day-trip coaches from Aurangabad fill Kailasa's courtyard, and the rock is hot to walk on.
The living temple next door
Grishneshwar Temple, about 1.5 km from the caves, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a busy working temple. Men take off their shirts to enter the sanctum, and phones are not allowed inside, so use the lockers. Many visitors do an early darshan here and then walk or take an auto to the caves.
Staying and eating
Verul has a few small hotels and roadside restaurants, but most visitors sleep in Aurangabad and drive out for the day. Khuldabad, a few kilometres up the ghat road, has Sufi shrines, the reclining Hanuman of Bhadra Maruti and the plain grave of the emperor Aurangzeb, which has had a heavy police presence since protests in 2025. Food at Ellora is simple: thalis, misal pav and tea. Aurangabad's naan qalia is best eaten back in the city.
Seasons in brief
October to February is dry and pleasant, the best time to walk between cave groups. March to May is very hot, so start at dawn. The monsoon, roughly June to September, turns the ridge green and sends small waterfalls over the cliff, but the worn rock steps get slippery.
Questions
Ellora — FAQ
Which days can I see both Ellora and Ajanta?
Ellora closes on Tuesdays and Ajanta on Mondays. Ellora on a Monday followed by Ajanta on a Tuesday works well, and so does any pair of days from Wednesday to Sunday.
Can I do Ellora and Ajanta in one day?
Not comfortably. They are roughly 100 km apart by road and each deserves most of a day. Most people give each its own day and sleep in Aurangabad in between.
How do I get to Ellora from Aurangabad?
Ellora is about 30 km away, usually under an hour by car or taxi. State buses also run from Aurangabad's central bus stand. Hiring a car for the day makes it easy to add Grishneshwar, Khuldabad and Daulatabad Fort on the way.
How long do I need at Ellora?
Half a day covers Kailasa and one other group of caves. A full day lets you see Kailasa, the Buddhist caves and the Jain caves without rushing, plus Grishneshwar.
Is there anywhere to stay at Ellora itself?
Yes, there are a few small hotels in Verul and Khuldabad, handy if you want to be at the gate at opening time. Aurangabad has far more choice and better food, about 30 km away.