Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jain Caves
The five Jain caves may lack the artistic vigour and ambitious size of the best Hindu
temples, but they are exceptionally detailed. The caves are 1km north of the last Hindu
temple (Cave 29) at the end of the bitumen road.
Cave 30
, the Chhota Kailasa (Little Kailasa), is a poor imitation of the great Kailasa
Temple and stands by itself some distance from the other Jain temples.
In contrast,
Cave 32
, the Indra Sabha (Assembly Hall of Indra), is the finest of the Jain
temples. Its ground-floor plan is similar to that of the Kailasa, but the upstairs area is as
ornate and richly decorated as the downstairs is plain. There are images of the Jain
tirthankars
(great teachers) Parasnath and Gomateshvara, the latter surrounded by wild-
life. Inside the shrine is a seated figure of Mahavira, the last
tirthankar
and founder of the
Jain religion.
Cave 31
is really an extension of Cave 32.
Cave 33
, the Jagannath Sabha, is similar in plan
to Cave 32 and has some well-preserved sculptures. The final temple, the small
Cave 34
,
also has interesting sculptures. On the hilltop over the Jain temples, a 5m-high image of
Parasnath looks down on Ellora.
CAVES
Sleeping & Eating
Hotel Kailas
( 244446;
www.hotelkailas.com
;
d ?1761, with AC ?2435, cottages from ?2935; )
The sole decent hotel
near the site, this place should be considered only if you can't have enough of Ellora in a
single day. The comfy cottages here come with hot showers; those with cave views are
pricier. There's a good restaurant (mains ?100 to ?250) and a lush lawn tailor-made for an
evening drink.
HOTEL
$$
INDIAN
$
MTDC Ellora Restaurant & Beer Bar
(mains ?80-130, thali ?80-130; 8am-5pm)
Located within the temple complex, this is a good
place to settle in for lunch, or pack takeaways in case you want to picnic beside the caves.
Getting There & Away
Do note that the temples are closed on Tuesday! Buses regularly ply the road between
Aurangabad and Ellora (?25); the last bus departs from Ellora at 8pm. Share jeeps leave
