Why Ellora caves are so famous: Ten Facts at a Glance

Ellora is an archaeological site 29 km (18 mi) north-west of the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra, built by Kalachuri, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties during (6th and 9th centuries). The 34 "caves" are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. These caves are dedicated to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. The 17 Hindu (caves 13–29), 12 Buddhist (caves 1–12) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves, built in proximity. The Ellora Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Pictures of Ellora Caves:

Lord Vishnu Cave

Ten Facts about Ellora Caves:

1. The Ellora caves, locally known as ‘Verul Leni’ are situated on the Aurangabad-Chalisgaon road at a distance of 30 km north-northwest of Aurangabad, the district headquarters.
2. Ellora is also world famous for the largest single monolithic excavation in the world, the great Kailasa (Cave 16).
3. Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.
4. The 34 "caves" are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.
5. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were constructed between the 5th century and 10th century.
6. Ellora is famous for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples built during (6th and 9th centuries) the rule of the Kalachuri, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties.
7. The five Jain caves at Ellora belong to the ninth and tenth centuries. They all belong to the Digambara sect.
8. Twelve Buddhist caves were built during the 5th-7th century.
9. Most popular of the Buddhist caves is cave  number 10, a Chaitya hall (chandrashala) or 'Vishvakarma cave', popularly known as the 'Carpenter's Cave. (See Pic. below)
10. Dashavatara cave (Cave 15) at Ellora depicts the ten avataras of Lord Vishnu.

The Buddhist "Carpenter's" cave (Cave 10)

Image source: http://asi.nic.in/