Stock photography picture of Obelisk in the Kailasa cave ,7th century Ellora caves in Maharashtra India

A6MKYJ - Licenced Caption Obelisk in the Kailasa cave ,7th century Ellora caves in Maharashtra India Description On the Charanadari hillside in Deccan, Maharashtra India is a series of ancient temples and monasteries hewn out of rock- the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ellora Caves . Situated on the ancient north- south trade route the tiny mountain village of Verul (Ellora) was a well- known stopover for traders, priests and pilgrims who travelled the route to the western ports.Beginning sometime in the 7th century, when the Chalukyas (AD 553 - 753) ruled the Deccan, these wayfarers decided to make their presence permanent. And excavation started on a number of Buddhist chaityas and viharas. The place found favour of other faiths as well, and over the next five centuries, Hindus and Jains built their temples there.Unlike the caves at Ajanta, the Ellora caves were never 'lost' because they lay on a frequented route, Ellora remained in the public eye. In fact, Kailasa Temple remained a practising shrine until the 19th century.There are 34 caves, of which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. the magnificence of Kailasa Temple or Cave 16's excavation must rank as an architectural wonder and it is the largest monolithic structure in the world Keywords Maurice, Joseph, India, Asia, ASEAN, Indian, 7th, century,, 34, Ellora, Caves, world, famous, rockhewn, Monuments, ancient, north-, south, trade, route, art, excavation, architectural, wonder, largest, monolithic, structure, Buddhist, religious, art, UNESCO, World, Heritage, Site., Kailasa, Temple, Hindus, Jain, caves, monastic, complex, viharas, (halls, of, residence), chaitya-grihas, (stupa, monument), halls, Buddha, Buddhism, religion, religous, expression, tourism, vacation, exotic, faraway.travel, traveller, tour, tourist, touring, visit, visitor, sightseeing, holiday, interest, journey, explore, exploration, environment, passage, roam, rambling, excursion, sightseeing, sight, photogenic, photography, enriching, enrichment, walking, geographic, geography, people, lifestyle, place, art, artistic, experience, geology, sculpture, colour, view, panorama, scene, scenery, awesome, scenic, historic, beautiful, protected, unique