Maharashtra
Aurangabad district
1
Destinations
4
Sights
Where to go
Sights to see
Ellora Caves
“Ancient cave temples in Maharashtra, India”
The Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Aurangabad, India. It is one of the largest rock-cut cave complexes in the world, with artwork dating from AD 600–1000, including Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves. The complex is a leading example of Indian rock-cut architecture, and several are not strictly "caves" in that they have no roof. Cave 16 features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailash temple, a chariot-shaped monument dedicated to the god Shiva.
Pitalkhora
“Ancient Buddhist caves in India”
The Pitalkhora Caves, in the Satmala range of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, are an ancient Buddhist site consisting of 14 rock-cut cave monuments which date back to the third century BCE, making them one of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India. Located about 40 kilometers from Ellora, the site is reached by a steep climb down a flight of concrete stairs, past a waterfall next to the caves.
Sambhajinagar Caves
“Rock-cut Buddhist shrine in Maharashtra, India”
The Aurangabad caves now known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Caves are twelve rock-cut Buddhist shrines located on a hill running roughly east to west, close to the city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The first reference to the Aurangabad Caves is in the great chaitya of Kanheri Caves. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Caves were dug out of comparatively soft basalt rock during the 6th and 7th century.
Ghatotkacha Cave
“Buddhist caves in Maharashtra, India”
The Ghatotkach Caves are located 18 km to the west of Ajantha, near Jinjala, India. The caves include three Buddhist caves, one is a chaitya and two are viharas. The caves were excavated in the 6th century AD, and were influenced by Mahayana Buddhism.
Other districts in Maharashtra
Photo credits
- Ellora Caves: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons