Ellora

Ellora: We started at the oldest (Buddhist) caves.

Ellora: Modern walls and steps provide access.

Ellora

Mara at Ellora caves. It must be a lot of work to carve deeply into the black basalt!

Ellora: Buddha, in his teaching pose.

Ellora: Buddha's hands indicate he is teaching.

Andy in Ellora caves. Most of the sculptures were larger than life.

Andy and Mara at Ellora caves. This is a Chaitya, a shrine and gathering place.

Mara and Andy explore the Ellora caves.

Ellora: Some areas seemed unfinished.

Ellora: Cave 2, from 8th century A.D.

Andy and Pam at Ellora caves, examining one carved entryway; upper-left corner has a huge beehive.

Ellora: a beehive - covered in bees - above a cave entry.

Ellora: A group of Muslim schoolchildren visit the caves.

Ellora

Ellora: schoogirls.

Ellora: schoogirl.

Ellora

At Ellora caves, a schoolteacher asked us to pose for a photo with his group.

Ellora: Cave 10, from the 7th century A.D., is two stories.

Ellora: The columns are purely for show, not for structure.

Andy and Pam at Ellora caves. Cave 10; note the fake wood beams carved into the ceiling, just for style.

Ellora: the caves were later used by squatters who carved holes in the pillars (to hitch up their animals).

Ellora: Andy demonstrates the use of a Monk’s bed, one of many such cells.

Andy at Ellora caves. Cave 12 (9th century A.D.), a three-story structure.

Ellora: bats currently reside in Cave 12, on the ceiling.