Ellora Caves in Aurangabad

India is a country with complex and bizarre architecture, and the Ellora Caves are a typical example. They are hidden in the hinterland of India, in the northwest suburbs of the small town of Aurangabad, and were not discovered by a British tourist until 1794. According to research, the construction of the Ellora Caves began as early as 600 AD and was not completed until 1000 AD. The scale and duration of the construction is comparable to the Great Wall of China, and it remained hidden for nearly 800 years before it was revealed to the world. The Ellora Caves were built during the reign of the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta dynasties in India. During that time, Hinduism slowly revived, Buddhism declined, and the government promoted Jainism, resulting in the coexistence of the three religions. Ellora is located in the center of India, and people from the three major religions came one after another. The first to arrive were the Buddhists, who came in 600 AD. The Ellora Mountains are steep, so they carved caves and built temples along the mountains. Around 765 AD, Hindus also arrived, and with the support of the king at the time, they built huge temples. There are a total of 34 caves in Ellora, 12 of which are Buddhist, 17 are Hindu, and 5 are Jain. The caves stretch for about 2 km, and the temples and sculptures of the three religions are like a competition, each with its own style.