At 29 kilometers north-west from the city of Aurangabad, which is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, the Ellora Caves are located (or Ellora). They were created during the reign of Dynasty Rashtrakuta. 34 caves carved in the monolith Charanandri one of the mountains, are the epitome of the achievements of Indian cave architecture. Each cave Ellora is unique and beautiful, and is embedded into each particle of the soul of the Indian people.

These caves were created as a Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries, the so-called Vihara and Math during the V to the X century. So 12 of the 34 caves are Buddhist shrines, 17 - 5, and Hindu - Jain.

Previously it was thought that the very first part was built Buddhist Ellora (caves 1-12) - in V-VII centuries. But more recent studies have shown that some Hindu caves were created in earlier times. For this part, the majority consists of the monastic buildings - a large multi-level spaces carved in the rock, some of which are decorated with pictures and sculptures of Buddha. Moreover, some of the sculptures are carved with such skill that they can be confused with wood. The most famous Buddhist cave is considered the 10th Cave - Vishwakarma. At its center stands a statue of Buddha height of 4.5 meters.

The Hindu part Ellora established in VI-VIII centuries and is made in a completely different style. All the walls and ceilings of buildings of this part are completely covered with bas-reliefs and sculptures of such complexity that sometimes over their design and construction work of several generations of masters. The most striking is the 16th cave, which is called Kailasa or Kailasanatha. It is in its beauty surpasses all other cave complex. It is rather a real temple, carved in monolithic rock.

Dzhaniystskie caves were created during the IX-X centuries. In their architecture embodied the thrust of this religion to the austerity and simplicity. They are superior to the rest of the room size, but, despite its simplicity, is not inferior to them in uniqueness. So in one of these caves, Indra Sabha, the ceiling is carved amazing lotus flower, and at the top level is a statue of the goddess Ambika sitting astride a lion among the mango trees, festooned with fruit.

In 1983, the Ellora Caves are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.