{"id":7766,"date":"2025-02-13T13:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T13:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/?p=7766"},"modified":"2025-04-19T11:03:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T11:03:03","slug":"ellora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/2025\/02\/13\/ellora\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellora"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, another early start! The caves were supposed to open at 6am when it was pitch black but when I arrived at the gate at 7, there were only a few people around, so I immediately headed for the showstopper of the site: Cave 16, Kailasa.<\/p>\n<p>So <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kailasa_Temple,_Ellora\">Kailasa<\/a>\u00a0really is the centrepiece of the site, in stature and position as it really dominates the place. It&#8217;s not actually a cave as they have removed a huge chunk of the rock face: They say 200,000 tons of rock over a period of 100 years in the 8th to 9th centuries and it is this mammoth achievement which is so incredible.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5CfaNyu2frU?si=ondCBg9TJSYE_bH6\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7772\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7772\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-2-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-2-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7772\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7773\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7773\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"550\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-2.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-2-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-2-198x270.jpg 198w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7773\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7774\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7774\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1-2-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1-2-397x270.jpg 397w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7774\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7771\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7771\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7771\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"508\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-2.jpg 508w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-2-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-2-183x270.jpg 183w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cave 16 is in the centre of the site so from here I turned right and then went from cave 15 to 1 and then retraced my steps to cover 17-33 before coming back to spend more time at Kailasa and that is the order of the rest of the photos.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a bit odd that I don&#8217;t have photos of Cave 15 but this site has photos of all the caves so well worth checking out: <a href=\"https:\/\/elloracaves.org\/caves.php?cmd=search&amp;words=&amp;cave_ID=15&amp;plan_floor=1&amp;image_ID=970\">Elloracaves.org<\/a>. I went inside 14 but it was very dark and the statues defaced and\/or eroded. Cave 13 was never properly excavated which leads us to Cave 12 and again I don&#8217;t have any photos of the interior but it is featured in this compilation video of Caves 12, 10 and 2. These are the Buddhist caves.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i22mNjkpuAY?si=HftlPOfRXPCtmx9i\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7805\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7805\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7805\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5a.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 12\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5a.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5a-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7805\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 10\" width=\"574\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5-2.jpg 574w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5-2-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5-2-207x270.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cave 10<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7781\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7781\" style=\"width: 593px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/6-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 10\" width=\"593\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/6-2.jpg 593w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/6-2-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/6-2-213x270.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7781\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7780\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7780\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/7-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 10\" width=\"750\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/7-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/7-2-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/7-2-351x270.jpg 351w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7780\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7779\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7779\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/8-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 10\" width=\"750\" height=\"582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/8-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/8-2-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/8-2-348x270.jpg 348w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7779\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7778\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7778\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 2\" width=\"750\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-2-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/9-2-445x270.jpg 445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7778\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7777\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7777\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/10-2.jpg\" alt=\"Caves 1-4\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/10-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/10-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/10-2-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7777\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caves 1-4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So after the first caves I retraced my steps past Cave 16 to Cave 17 and beyond. Caves 17 to 29 are Hindu:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7776\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7776\" style=\"width: 539px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7776 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/11-2.jpg\" alt=\"cave 17\" width=\"539\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/11-2.jpg 539w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/11-2-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/11-2-194x270.jpg 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 539px) 100vw, 539px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7776\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">cave 17, Goddess Durga, Mahisasuramardini. Slaying the buffalo demon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7775\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7775\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7775 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/12-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 17\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/12-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/12-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/12-2-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7775\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7783\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7783\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7783 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/13-2.jpg\" alt=\"cave 17\" width=\"750\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/13-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/13-2-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/13-2-321x270.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">cave 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7786\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7786\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7786 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/14-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 21\" width=\"750\" height=\"637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/14-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/14-2-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/14-2-318x270.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7786\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7785\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7785\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7785 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/15-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 21\" width=\"750\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/15-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/15-2-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/15-2-384x270.jpg 384w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7785\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7784\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7784\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7784 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/16-2.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 29\" width=\"750\" height=\"585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/16-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/16-2-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/16-2-346x270.jpg 346w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7784\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 29<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7788\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7788\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/17-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 29\" width=\"750\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/17-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/17-1-300x253.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/17-1-320x270.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 29<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7787\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7787\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/18-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 29\" width=\"750\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/18-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/18-1-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/18-1-389x270.jpg 389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 29<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After Cave 29 It is a bit of a hike, although a rather attractive one, to the remaining three, the Jain Caves. It was here where I spotted a group of hornbills, although too late to get a photo and was accompanied by the constant call of a Coppersmith Barbet. There were plenty around and their calls almost felt like the backing track of my trip to the caves.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7789\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/19-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/19-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/19-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/19-1-364x270.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Although it was now getting quite hot it was well worth it because these caves were some of the highlights for me, especially Cave 32 which features in this compilation video of Caves 21, 29 and 32:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EuKIoILH6EE?si=0kOssWFVQn4xov8k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7801\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7801 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 32\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20-1-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 32<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7800\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7800\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7800 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/21-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 32\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/21-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/21-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/21-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 32<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7799\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7799\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7799 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 32\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/22-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7799\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 32<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7798\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7798\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7798 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/23-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 33\" width=\"750\" height=\"610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/23-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/23-1-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/23-1-332x270.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7798\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 33<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7797\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7797\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7797 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/24-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 33\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/24-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/24-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/24-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 33<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/25-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/25-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/25-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/25-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So then I returned to do some more exploring of Kailasa Temple, Cave 16 by which time a lot more tourists had arrived.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7795\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7795\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7795 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/26-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/26-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/26-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/26-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7794\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7794\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7794 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/27-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/27-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/27-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/27-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7794\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7793\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7793\" style=\"width: 538px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7793 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/28-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"538\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/28-1.jpg 538w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/28-1-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/28-1-194x270.jpg 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7792\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7792\" style=\"width: 565px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7792 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/29-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"565\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/29-1.jpg 565w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/29-1-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/29-1-203x270.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7791\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7791\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7791 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/30-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/30-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/30-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/30-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7791\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7790\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7790\" style=\"width: 563px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7790 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/31-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"563\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/31-1.jpg 563w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/31-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/31-1-203x270.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7790\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7804\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7804\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7804 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/32-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cave 16\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/32-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/32-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/32-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7804\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cave 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A last look at Cave 16 and then I rejoin the hustle and bustle of modern day India:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ThLe7zhs6j4?si=YgXyEaFa3NU8dRs6\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And time for a spot of lunch. Just a snack, the Maharashtran staple of Wada Pav.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7803\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/33-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/33-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/33-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/33-1-358x270.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/34-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/34-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/34-1-300x269.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/34-1-301x270.jpg 301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So that was the Ellora caves. No rest for the wicked however. I checked out of the Kailash Hotel and got the bus back to Aurangabad where the following day I was to discover some of its delights.<\/p>\n<p>More photos of my trip to Ellora <a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/5dJuWE5ZpVVP5CwTA\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, another early start! The caves were supposed to open at 6am when it was pitch black but when I arrived at the gate at 7, there were only a few people around, so I immediately headed for the showstopper of the site: Cave 16, Kailasa. So Kailasa\u00a0really is the centrepiece of the site, in stature and position as it really dominates the place. It&#8217;s not actually a cave as they have removed a huge chunk of the rock face:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/2025\/02\/13\/ellora\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/31-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7766"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7807,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766\/revisions\/7807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}