Ellora caves: a glorious past shows faiths can co-exist in a happy symbiosis

by: Hindumitra Karen Dabrowska, London

Ellora caves aren’t just impressive. They give us a  quiet gentle  reminder that coexistence isn’t some modern invention. The Vedas tell us that there is one truth which has many expressions. Buddhism tells us: “Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.” Mahavira the Jain  patriarch teaches:"Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being."  The existence of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves in a happy symbiosis is an inspiring testimony to the fact that the adherents of these faiths put the enlightened theories into practice.

Sadly, the invaders following the monotheistic religion did not do the same. Elephants sculptured into the rock face are missing heads and the gods are missing arms and legs thanks to the wanton destruction of the intolerant conquerors and colonizers.

Ellora stretches for more than two kilometres along a basalt cliff near Aurangabad, and walking along it feels like flipping through a thousand-year-old storybook carved in stone. What struck me most the scale (which is mind-blowing).

These caves were carved between the 6th and 12th centuries — and not tentatively chipped away at, but boldly sculpted out of solid rock. Thirty-four monasteries and temples, each with its own personality. Some serene and meditative, others dramatic and intricate.

And then there’s the showstopper: the Kailasa Temple. I had seen photos, but standing in front of it? Completely different experience. This isn’t a temple built with blocks. It was carved from a single rock, top to bottom. I kept circling it, trying to understand how ancient craftsmen even imagined such a thing — let alone executed it.

Getting to the caves  was part of the adventure. The six-hour train journey from Mumbai to Aurangabad began at the glorious Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus — still known to many as Victoria Terminus. It’s one of those stations where you forget to look for your platform because you’re too busy staring at the architecture.

A glorious blend of Victorian Gothic and Indian design, and yes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site too. But it’s not a museum piece — it’s buzzing, chaotic, alive. Porters weaving through crowds, chai sellers calling out, families camped on luggage. Mumbai in one building.

If there’s one trip that completely swept me into India’s layered, living history, it was visiting the Ellora Caves. I’d heard about them before, of course — those legendary rock-cut caves carved straight into cliffs — but nothing quite prepares you for seeing them in real life.

About the author:

Hindumitra Karen Dabrowska lives in London, UK. She first became interested in Sanatana Dharma in 2020 after reading Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. In 2022 she visited Babaji’s cave where Yogananda’s master was initiated into kriya yoga. She found India an enchanting, fascinating and welcoming country which she has been visiting twice a year since 2022. She then visited Rishikesh and in it the Vasishtha Cave home of Vasishtha one of the seven immortal saints. In February 2025 she felt it to be a great honor to go to the kumbh mela a very personal spiritual experience shared with millions of people. In her own words "I felt I was part of one gigantic family and we all embarked on a pilgrimage together."

In 2023 she listened to a talk at Laxmi Narayan Temple in West London by Hindumitra Dr Malladi Srinivasa Sastry, founder of Hindumitra Foundation, and was inspired by his clear presentation of the concepts of Sanatana Dharma. The talk was a condensed version of his ten-lesson course “Bring out the best in you – the Sanatana Dharma way” which she studied online. She kept in touch with Dr Malladi by email and WhatsApp and when he heard that she was planning to visit south India in January this year she was invited to Visakhapatnam to see the activities of Hindumitra. There was a fascinating visit to Dimili village where young people gave a performance of traditional dancing and art forms. Hindumitra is keen to promote the preservation of cultural traditions. She also took part in a major Hindumitra event with the theme the world is one family in Visakhapatnam public library where Hindumitra Karen ji spoke about her spiritual journey with Sanatana dharma. The programme attended by over 100 people was very full with a discussion about Hindu parenting and folk culture performances and demonstrations. Residing in UK, Hindumitra Karen ji actively contributes to the spiritual work of Hindumitra and is currently attending weekly classes on Bhagavatam by Hindumitra Dr. Malladi Srinivasa Sastry.