The Ellora Caves, one of the largest temple/monastic sites in the world, are located 30 km north-northwest of Aurangabad, in India, near the village of Ellora. Followers of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism built this complex between around the 6th and 10th centuries. There are 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves and five Jain caves. The fact that these groups built their structures so close together, and sometimes at the same time, is evidence of the religious harmony that existed during this time in Indian history. Builders carved the Ellora Caves into the face of the Charanandri Hills, a basalt volcanic formation. They began work around 500 AD. Buddhist caves were dug between about 500 and 750 AD. Hindu caves were dug between about 600 and 870 AD, while Jain caves were dug between about 800 and 1000 AD. Temples and monasteries were then sculpted. to each other in the wall of the basalt cliff. There are 34 caves in total numbered chronologically, starting with the oldest Buddhist cave at the southern end of the site....