THE Ellora Caves, just 26 kilometres north of Aurangabad, are like the Ajanta Caves (107-kilometres north-east), a bedrock of ancient civilisation. Some historians describe them alternatively as a cradle of great religions and a cauldron of diverse cultures. For they span the period between the 5th and 11th century AD, and comprise Buddhist monasteries, and temples of the Hindu and Jain faiths. While Ajanta represents the most perfect example of Indian wall paintings, Ellora is famous for its architectural design and outstanding sculptures. Both are world heritage sites and being preserved as an artistic legacy to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

The drive to Ellora is through some lush countryside and winds through ancient hills. Ellora holds the distinction of being, in a sense, the native place of the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His grandfather, Maloji Bhonsle, settled in Verul Village, now Ellora, near the Daulatabad Fort. It was in this village that Shivaji�s parents, Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai, first met. And the Daulatabad Fort on the way to the caves, rises majestically over 600 feet above the Deccan plain. Stop on the road to Ellora and satiate your hunger with green guavas as you click pictures of the fort in the distance.

The caves are open between 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Mondays and public holidays, they remain closed. State transport buses ply between Ellora and Aurangabad. Entry to the caves is gained by purchasing a ten-rupee ticket. Once inside, you can help preserve the rich heritage and natural environment by not touching the paintings or sculptures or by using flash cameras inside the caves as these are said to damage the paintings. The entire area around Ellora is a no-smoking zone, remember that. The caves are tucked away in the lap of a crescent-shaped hill, carved in a north-south line, and looking across the vast Deccan plain.

Caves No. 1 to 12 are the Buddhist caves from the 5th to 7th century AD. The Hindu caves are from No. 13 to 29 and represent the 8th and 9th century AD. And the Jain caves are from No. 30 to 34, the are from the 9th to 11th century. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) hosts the Ellora Festival of Classical Dance and Music at the caves in the third week of March, annually. It is a great time to visit Ellora. Do also see the extravagantly beautiful Kailasa Complex there. The Kailasa Temple, cave No. 16, is the most imposing excavation and the largest single monolithic structure in the world. Then, when you�re driving back, slow down and lookout for the families of monkeys on the hills. They have been there as long as the caves themselves!