The carvings in the Ellora caves belong to 600 CE to 1000 CE. The sculptures of the caves depict different forms and representations of gods, goddesses and mythologies of Hinduism and teachings of Buddhism and Jainism. There are over 100 caves in this place and all of them had been excavated from the Basaltic rocks of the nearby Charanandri Hills.
Among the caves, Cave 16 stands out because it contains the Kailasha Temple which is a single rock-cut temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The intricate carvings depicting different beliefs of different sects of Hinduism are absolutely spellbinding. The carvings were painted before but now a few of the plasters have come off. The caves were made during the rules of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty and the Yadava Dynasty.
The Ellora caves were the monasteries for Buddhists and Jains, and also served as temples and rest house for pilgrims and traders traveling along this route. The caves had suffered from the attacks of the invaders who came after the rule of the Rashtrakutas and the Yadavas but the intricate sculptures had remained without suffering from any damage.