VANAMCOVE 
UNESCO cave complex of Kailasa temple
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Day 1 · The rock-cut complex
- Morning Kailasa
- Buddhist caves
- Hindu circuit
- Jain visit
- Return
Geography & terrain
Ellora lies in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district of Maharashtra, 30 km from the city — the rock-cut complex of the 6th–10th centuries, its 34 caves of the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions set in the Charanandri hills.
History & culture
The caves were carved over four centuries by the region's dynasties — the Buddhist viharas of the early phase, the Hindu temples of the Rashtrakuta era including the great Kailasa of the 8th century, and the Jain caves of the later age; the Kailasa's single-rock excavation, its scale and the complex's three-faith co-existence make Ellora a UNESCO World Heritage site of the rock-cut world.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–3,500/night
Mid-range
₹3,500–7,000/night
Comfort
₹7,000+/night
Things to do
- Kailasa rock
- Buddhist viharas
- Hindu shrines
- Jain caves
- Carved facades
Eat & drink
- Vada pav
- Misal pav
- Pav bhaji
- Puran poli
Getting there
- Fly
- Mumbai (BOM) / Pune (PNQ) / Nagpur (NAG)
- Train
- Mumbai CST, Pune, Nagpur junctions
- Road from Mumbai
- varies by district — 40–500 km
- Getting around
- Local trains, autos, buses, app taxis
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,500–10,500 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,500–7,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹1,000–1,400
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 14–29°C · None rain
- Feb · Best
- 17–32°C · None rain
- Mar · Hot
- 21–36°C · None rain
- Apr · Hot
- 25–39°C · None rain
- May · Hot
- 28–40°C · None rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 27–35°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 25–31°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 25–31°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon tail
- 24–33°C · Moderate rain
- Oct · Good
- 21–34°C · Light rain
- Nov · Good
- 17–31°C · None rain
- Dec · Best
- 14–29°C · None rain
Practical info
- Language: Marathi (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The complex's full circuit takes the day — the morning start
- The Kailasa's scale reads from the upper decks — the climbs
- Pairs with Daulatabad for the region's great day
Frequently asked questions
What is Ellora?
The rock-cut complex of 34 caves of the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths.
What is the chief wonder?
The Kailasa — the great temple carved from a single rock.
How long is the visit?
A full day — often paired with Daulatabad.
UNESCO cave complex of Kailasa temple
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