Ellora Caves

The Ellora caves were right outside our hotel so we got an early start. We had a different guide – not as fluent in English, but well versed in the caves.
The Ellora caves are not quite as old, nor were they ever abandoned. There are caves from three religions side-by-side here – Buddhist, Hindu and Jain. The Hindu temple was amazing. Our guide said that it is the finest example of “chariot architecture” in the world. I cannot even begin to describe the carvings and the immensity of it. Karen and I touch the Shiva shrine to bring good luck and leave a 10 rupee note as an offering.

The Buddhist caves are either a monastery or a temple. Our guide urges us to hurry so that we can be alone and we enter the only Buddhist temple at this site. It is long, arched and intricately carved. Our voices echo. Our guide puts down his umbrella and begins to chant unexpectedly. His chant is beautiful and fills the temple with reverberations. I am touched by this moment of quietness and sound. Without missing a beat, he resumes his narration after the chant is over. When we leave the temple he tells us he is a Buddhist.

The Jain caves are similar in many ways to the Buddhist, but there aren’t as many of them. Here again we are asked to pose for pictures. The family we pose with has some sort of portable photo printer and they come over and eagerly show us the printed photos!