ELLORA CAVES

Ellora Caves are a multi-religious rock-cut cave complex with inscriptions dating from the period 6th century CE onwards,located in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra, India . They are also called verul caves. There are over 100 caves at the site , all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills, 34 of which are open to public . The Ellora caves are situated in state of Maharashtra about 29 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of city of Sambhaji Nagar, 300 kilometres (190 miles)east-northwest of Mumbai,235 kilometres(146 miles) from pune and about 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of the Ajanta caves,2.3 kilometres (1.42 miles) from Grishneshwar Temple (india).

Ellora occupies a relatively flat rocky region of the Western Ghat, where ancient volcanic activity had created multilayed basalt formations, known as the Deccan Traps. The volcanic activity that formed the west-facing cliff that houses the Ellora caves occured during the cretaceous period. The resulting vertical face made access to many layers of rock formations easier, enabling architects to pick basalt with finer grains for more detailed sculpting. The construction at Ellora has been studied since British colonial rule. However,the overlapping styles between the Buddist,Hindu and jain cavas has made it difficult to establish agreement concerning the chronology of their construction. The disputes generally concern: one, whether the Buddist or Hindu caves were carved first and ,two ,the relative dating of caves whithin a perticuar tradition. The broad consensus that has emerged is based on comparing the carving styles at Ellora to other cave temple in the Deccan region that have been dated, textual records of various dynasties, and epigraphical evidence found at various archaeological sites near Ellora and elsewhere in Maharashtra, Madhya pradesh and Kanataka. The Great Kailasa temple(cave 16) is attributed to krishna l(c.757-783 CE), the successor and uncle of Dantidurga. A copper plate inscription found in Baroda, Gujrat, states that a great edifice was built on hill by Krishnaraja at Elapura (Ellora) The carvings at Ellora were at one time profusely painted. The rock was covered with a lime plaster which was painted. The plaster and the paint has survived in places. The famous Bengali filmmaker (and author) Satyajit Ray wrote the crime thriller novel Kailashey Kelenkari in 1974 , featuring fictional detective Feluda. In the novel, Feluda travels to the Ellora caves to uncover a smuggling racket involving illegal trade of historical artifacts from indian temples, including the largest cave at Ellora , the Kailasa Temple .Satyajit`s son Sandip Ray adapted the novel into a movie of the same name in 2007. The authenticity of Ellora Caves is expressed through the architectural forms and design such as the viharas (monasteries ), chaityagriha (sanctury), and monolithic temples belonging to three different faiths.

EThe materials,locations, and natural setting also play significant roles in determining the authenticity of the property. The Ellora Caves are authentic in terms of the forms and designs, materials and substance , and locations and setting of paintings,rock-cut architecture, sculptures, and unfinished temples of three different faiths ,i.e. Buddhism,Brahmanism,and Jainism. The management of the Ellora Caves is carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),while the buffer zones are jointly manged by the ASI, the Forest department, and the Goverment of Maharashtra. Various legislation, including the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958) and its Rules (1959), Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act (2010), Forest Act (1927),Forest

Coservation Act (1980), Municipal Councills, Nagar Panchyats and Industrial Townships Act, Maharashtra (1965),and Regional and Town Planning Act , Maharashtra (1966), governs the overall administration of the property and its buffer zones . A detailed condition survey of all caves has been undertaken as a part of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and implementation is underway .

Sustaining the Outstanding Universal Value of the property over time will require developing and implementing a framework to address issues such as visitor management as well as environment management; long-term monitoring for seepage and cracking patterns in all the caves; and capacity building of conservation staff at the property, with the objective of ensuring the long term protection of attributes that sustain the Outstanding Universal Value, integrity and authenticity of the property. The invaluabe ensemble of 34 cavesat Ellora in the Charanandri hills of western India`s Maharashtra State showcasea spirit of co-existense and religious tolerance through the outstanding architectural activities carried out by the followers of three prominent religiouns: Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Jainism . The rock- cut activity was carried out in three phases from the 6th century to the 12th century. The earliest caves (caves 1-12), excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries, reflect the Mahayana philosophy of Buddism then prevalent in this region. The Bramanical group of caves (caves 13-29), including the renowned kailasa temple (cave 16 ), was excavation between the 7th and 10th centuries. The last phase, between the 9th and 12th centuries,saw the excavatoin of a group of caves (caves 30-34) reflecting jaina philosoply.