At Ellora near Aurangabad, 34 excavations—Buddhist, Hindu, Jain—were hewn from basalt between the 6th and 10th centuries. Icon of the site is Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), a monolithic shrine carved top‑down. The complex shows patronage across dynasties and ongoing conservation of carvings, drainage, and visitor routes in a living pilgrimage landscape.
Early Buddhist viharas and chaityas gave way to Hindu monuments under the Rashtrakutas, with later Jain excavations reflecting a plural urban‑religious world.
Cave 16’s freestanding mass was quarried from the top, leaving bridges and courtyards. Tool marks, rock joints, and carved gutters reveal planning for monsoon flows.
Basalt exfoliation, water ingress, and visitor abrasion necessitate careful pathing, signage, and micro‑repairs in lime and stone. Lighting schemes aim to protect pigment traces where present.
