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Ellora Caves Timeline

(c. 600 CE – c. 1000 CE (construction period); designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983)

The Ellora Caves are a remarkable complex of rock-cut temples and monasteries located in Maharashtra, India, spanning Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions. Carved directly into basalt cliffs over several centuries, the site includes 34 major caves and features the monumental Kailasa Temple, one of the largest rock-cut structures in the world. Ellora represents a masterpiece of ancient Indian engineering, art, and religious coexistence. Less

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Construction of the Caves

Buddhist caves initially thought to date between 5th and 8th centuries

Jan 1, 400 - Dec 31, 750

It was initially thought that the Buddhist caves were the earliest structures, with caves 1–5 in the first phase (400–600) and caves 6–12 in the later phase (650–750). Modern scholars now consider the Hindu caves to have been built before the Buddhist caves.

Image source: Ellora Caves

Buddhist caves initially thought to date between 5th and 8th centuries

Nine cave temples excavated early in the 6th century

Jan 1, 500 - Dec 31, 550

Nine cave temples were excavated early in the 6th century at Ellora, followed by a further four caves (caves 17–29), marking the early phase of construction.

Kalachuri period Hindu caves constructed

Jan 1, 550 - Dec 31, 800

The Hindu caves at Ellora were constructed during the Kalachuri period, from the mid-6th century to the end of the 8th century, in two phases.

Ellora cave complex begins as a major rock-cut site

Jan 1, 600 - Dec 31, 1000

Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut cave complexes in the world, with artwork dating from AD 600–1000, including Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves.

Vajrayana and Tantra ideas established in South Asia by 8th century

Jan 1, 701 - Dec 31, 800

Evidence from the caves suggests that Vajrayana and Tantra ideas of Buddhism were well established in South Asia by the 8th-century CE.

Image source: Vajrayana

Vajrayana and Tantra ideas established in South Asia by 8th century

Rashtrakuta dynasty constructs Hindu and Buddhist caves

Jan 1, 753 - Dec 31, 982

The Rashtrakuta dynasty (753–982 AD) constructed part of the Hindu and Buddhist caves at Ellora.

Image source: Rashtrakuta dynasty

Rashtrakuta dynasty constructs Hindu and Buddhist caves

Caves completed with support of king Krishna I

Jan 1, 756 - Dec 31, 800

These caves were completed in the 8th century with the support of king Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.

Image source: Krishna I

Caves completed with support of king Krishna I

Later caves 14, 15 and 16 built during Rashtrakuta period

Jan 1, 800 - Dec 31, 1000

The later caves, 14, 15 and 16, were constructed during the Rashtrakuta period, some being dated to between the 8th to 10th centuries.

Historical Records and Decline

Inscription by Rashtrakuta Dantidurga carved at Ellora

Jan 1, 600

Several inscriptions at Ellora date from the 6th century onwards, the best known of which is an inscription by Rashtrakuta Dantidurga.

Image source: Dantidurga

Inscription by Rashtrakuta Dantidurga carved at Ellora

Buddhist monks frequently visit Ellora

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 1000

There have been several records written in the centuries following completion indicating the caves were visited regularly. For example, Ellora was known to have been frequented by Buddhist monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Sri Nagavarma inscription thought to date from 9th or 10th century

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 1000

Other inscriptions at Ellora, such as the one by Sri Nagavarma, are thought to date from the 9th or 10th century.

Al-Masudi mistakenly refers to Ellora as 'Aladra'

Jan 1, 901 - Dec 31, 1000

The 10th-century Baghdad resident Al-Masudi mistakenly referred to Ellora as Aladra, site of a great temple, a place of Indian pilgrimage and one with thousands of cells where devotees live.

Image source: Al-Masudi

Al-Masudi mistakenly refers to Ellora as 'Aladra'

Jain religious activity ceases under Islamic rule

Jan 1, 1275 - Dec 31, 1300

Jain religious activity at Ellora ceased after the region came under Islamic rule in the late 13th century.

Lilacharitra records active use of Ellora ceasing in the 13th century

Jan 1, 1275 - Dec 31, 1299

The Lilacharitra, a Marathi text dated to the late 13th century CE, is the first report stating that active use of Ellora ceased in the 13th century.

Deogiri falls to the Delhi Sultanate

Jan 1, 1294

Islamic court records indicated that Deogiri, the capital of the Yadava dynasty about 10 kilometres from Ellora, had come under sustained attack and subsequently fell to the Delhi Sultanate in 1294 CE.

Image source: Seuna (Yadava) dynasty

Deogiri falls to the Delhi Sultanate

Records of Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah mention camping at Ellora

Jan 1, 1352

In 1352 CE, the records of Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah mention him camping at the Ellora site.

Image source: Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah

Records of Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah mention camping at Ellora

Idols and images desecrated between 15th and 17th centuries

Jan 1, 1400 - Dec 31, 1699

The desecration of idols and images at Ellora was traced to the 15th to 17th centuries when this region of the Deccan peninsula was subjected to iconoclasm by Muslim armies.

Firishta writes a historical record mentioning Ellora

Jan 1, 1600 - Dec 31, 1623

Among other records of visits to Ellora are those written by Firishta, along with Thevenot, Niccolao Manucci, Charles Warre Malet, and Seely.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (Thevenot era) records visit to Ellora

Jan 1, 1633 - Dec 31, 1667

Thevenot wrote one of several records describing Ellora during the period 1633–67, following the caves' regular visitation over the centuries.

Image source: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (Thevenot era) records visit to Ellora

Niccolao Manucci records observations at Ellora

Jan 1, 1653 - Dec 31, 1708

Niccolao Manucci (1653–1708) wrote another of the historical records documenting Ellora after its active use had ceased.

Image source: Niccolao Manucci

Niccolao Manucci records observations at Ellora

Charles Warre Malet records Ellora

Jan 1, 1794

Charles Warre Malet wrote a record of Ellora in 1794, among the European accounts of the site following its rediscovery.

Image source: Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet

Charles Warre Malet records Ellora

Seely publishes an account of Ellora

Jan 1, 1824

Seely wrote a record of Ellora in 1824, part of the series of accounts written after the caves' active religious use had ended.

Jain Caves

Rock-carved image of Parshvanatha created during Rashtrakuta period

Jan 1, 753 - Dec 31, 982

On the hill to the northeast of the main complex of caves is a Jain temple containing a 4.9 m (16 ft) rock-carved image of Parshvanatha from the Rashtrakuta period with an inscription dated AD 1234.

Image source: Parshvanatha

Rock-carved image of Parshvanatha created during Rashtrakuta period

Creation of Jain caves likely begins in late 8th century

Jan 1, 775 - Dec 31, 1300

José Pereira used numerous sources to conclude that the creation of the Jain caves at Ellora likely began in the late 8th century, with construction and excavation activity extending beyond the 10th century and into the 13th century before halting with the invasion of the region by the Delhi Sultanate.

Lisa Owen questions music and dance in 9th-century Jainism

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 900

Art historian Lisa Owen has raised questions concerning whether music and dance were part of 9th-century Jainism, given that Jain theology focuses on meditative asceticism.

Jagannatha Sabha (Cave 33) dates to the 9th century

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 900

The Jagannatha Sabha (Cave 33) is the second-largest Jain cave at Ellora and dates to the 9th century according to the inscriptions on the pillars.

Temple on upper level of Indra Sabha likely built in early 9th century

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 850

This temple was likely built in the early 9th century, concurrent with the construction of the lower level of the Indra Sabha, some decades after the completion of the Kailasha Temple.

Indra Sabha (Cave 32) excavated

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 900

The Indra Sabha (Cave 32), excavated in the 9th century, is a two-storey cave with a monolithic shrine in its court.

Five Digambara Jain caves excavated at north end of Ellora

Jan 1, 801 - Dec 31, 950

At the north end of Ellora are the five Jain caves belonging to the Digambara sect, which were excavated in the ninth and early tenth centuries.

Yadava dynasty constructs Jain caves

Jan 1, 1187 - Dec 31, 1317

The Yadava dynasty (c. 1187–1317) constructed a number of the Jain caves at Ellora.

Jain caves flourish under Singhana's rule

Jan 1, 1200 - Dec 31, 1247

According to José Pereira, there is evidence that work in the Jain caves at Ellora had flourished under Singhana, who ruled the Yadava dynasty between ~1200 and 1247 CE, and these caves were in use by Jain visitors and worshippers into the 13th century.

Image source: Simhana

Jain caves flourish under Singhana's rule

Votive inscriptions dated to 1235 CE record Jain donations

Jan 1, 1235

Votive inscriptions dated to 1235 CE show a donor stating to have 'converted Charanadri into a holy tirtha' for Jains by gifting the excavation of lordly Jinas.

Modern Culture

19th-century historians misname temple as 'Indra Sabha'

Jan 1, 1800 - Dec 31, 1899

19th-century historians confused the Jain yakshas for alternate images of Indra that were found in Buddhist and Hindu artworks, thus leading to the temple being given the misnomer 'Indra Sabha'.

'Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book' features plate of Ellora caves

Jan 1, 1832

Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1832 contains a plate of 'Skeletal Group in the Ramedwur, Caves of Ellora, supposed to represent the nuptials of Siva and Parvati' by George Cattermole, engraved by W. Finden.

Image source: Blarney Stone

'Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book' features plate of Ellora caves

Satyajit Ray writes crime thriller novel Kailashey Kelenkari

Jan 1, 1974

The famous Bengali filmmaker (and author) Satyajit Ray wrote the crime thriller novel Kailashey Kelenkari in 1974, featuring fictional detective Feluda and set partly at the Ellora caves.

Sandip Ray adapts Kailashey Kelenkari into a movie

Jan 1, 2007

Satyajit's son Sandip Ray adapted the novel Kailashey Kelenkari into a movie of the same name in 2007, bringing the Ellora-linked story to the screen.

Image source: Kailashey Kelenkari (film)

Sandip Ray adapts Kailashey Kelenkari into a movie

Key Facts

  1. The Ellora Caves consist of 34 major caves carved between roughly 600 and 1000 CE during the reign of various dynasties including the Vakataka, Rashtrakuta, and Yadava.
  2. Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple, is the largest monolithic rock-cut temple in the world, carved downward from a single rock face and estimated to have involved removing thousands of tons of stone.
  3. Ellora is unique for housing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments side by side, reflecting religious tolerance in medieval India.
  4. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 due to its outstanding artistic and architectural value.
  5. Unlike many other cave complexes, Ellora's caves face west rather than east, allowing them to be illuminated by the setting sun each afternoon.

Source

This Ellora Caves timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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