Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Where love is, there God is also.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948), Indian political leader and father of India
Between the sixth and tenth centuries A.D., Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu monks carved thirty-four sacred “caves” out of solid rock in west India’s Charanandri Hills. Spectacular examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, these monasteries and temples are adorned with exquisite carvings, architectural details, sculptures, and paintings. The Buddhist caves (numbered 1–12) were created between A.D. 600 and 800, the Hindu caves (13–29) between 600 and 900, and the Jain caves (30–34) between 800 and 1000. This World Heritage site represents a time and place when worshippers from three great religions coexisted peacefully and collaboratively.
If you believe that love and religious tolerance can bridge the differences dividing people, visit the Ellora Caves. The nearest domestic airport is in Chikalthana, about 7.5 miles from Aurangabad, which is also accessible by state bus and train from India’s major cities. From Aurangabad, travel the 19 miles to Ellora by car, local bus, or auto rickshaw.
After exploring the caves with a guide, offer a prayer of universal love to heal the world or of Divine love to fill your heart.
Although all of the temple caves are magnificent, the pièce de résistance is Kailasanatha (16), a massive, multistoried temple carved out of a single rock depicting Mount Kailash, the Himalayan home of Shiva, Hindu god of both sacred celibacy and spousal love.