In the Charanandri Hills of India, carved directly into the side of a basalt cliff, are a collection of monasteries and temples known as the Ellora Caves.  These structures are some of the finest examples of their type and represent the religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.  The exact dates of the caves are in question, though the timeline of 400 CE to 1000 CE is suggested.  It is known that Ellora became the preferred site of cave dwellings of this kind after the abandonment of the Ajanta Caves.  The Ellora Caves were put on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1983.

The presence of the three separate religious influences demonstrates the  tolerance that India had at that point towards mixing spiritual beliefs.  Though grouped into their own areas, these structures are side-by-side, representations of the three greatest religions in India.  In total, 12 of the caves are devoted to Buddhism, 17 to Hinduism and the five most recent to Jainism.

Many of the structures are very large, containing their own  sleeping quarters, kitchens and other conveniences, just as a standard temple or monastery might.  Many are also multi-storied, though the general architecture reflects the differences between the religions as well as the changing times.

Within the structures are reliefs, sculptures and paintings.  The subjects include Buddha, bodhisattvas, saints and gods.  The interiors of some of them are carved in the likeness of what a regular timber-built building might look like, with  beams carved out of stones.

Probably the most famous of the caves is that which is labeled as Cave 16, also known as the Kailasanatha.  An entire temple complex was carved from one giant rock, an estimated 200,000 tons of stone having to be removed.  It is believed to have taken more than 100 years to  fully complete.

The sights at Ellora are unparalleled in their beauty.  Anyone with an interest in the religions of India should visit Ellora and see what devotion has created.