Ellora Cave No. 10

Cave 10, also known as the Vishvakarma Cave, is one of the finest Buddhist caves at Ellora. It is a large chaitya hall with a beautifully carved stupa at the center and a high vaulted ceiling that resembles wooden architecture. The acoustic design is impressive, and the carvings of Buddha are calm and detailed. Natural light entering from the front enhances the spiritual atmosphere. Try to chant Om(🕉️) and listen the magic.... Cave 10 stands out for its symmetry, scale, and peaceful vibe, making it one of the most impressive and must-visit caves in the Ellora complex.

Cave 10 is something else. It's the only chaitya (prayer hall) in the Ellora group – everything else is monasteries – so it really stands out. You approach it through a big courtyard with stairs, and the first thing that hits you is the façade. It's got this trefoil window with apsara groups carved around it, and honestly, the whole front gives the impression that wood was the building material, not stone. The craftsmanship is that fine. Inside, there are 28 columns dividing the space into a nave and side aisles, each column topped with a vase-and-foliage capital. The aisle runs all the way around the central stupa (dagoba), which has a massive 4.5-metre-high 'Preaching Buddha' carved right on the front. There are galleries above, reached by internal steps – these apparently had subsidiary shrines on the left and right, plus two chapels carved into the back of the galleries. One detail I loved: the square-based pillars in the galleries have lions at the base, with their faces and manes jutting outward. Really striking. The walls are decorated with amorous couples, which is interesting because it shows how Buddhism had moved away from its early ascetic, shy phase. Oh, and there's a circular window at the entrance that lets sunlight beam straight onto the Buddha's face – it gives him this eternal, ethereal glow. Absolutely worth timing your visit for that. Easily one of my favourite caves at Ellora."

After the Kailash cave, this is the other most beautiful cave of Ellora. There is uge statue of Budha inside the cave. The main attration of this cave is the echo effect and the roof.

A very well made cave which shows the rich culture of Buddhism and the idol carved is something worth visiting and seeing. The architecture of the cave is unique since once a year sometime in March the sunlight directly falls on the face of the Idol which is a phenomenon in itself.

Locally known as Visvakarma, this cave is the only chaitya hall at Ellora. On both sides of the front courtyard is a shrine. The shrine on the southern side has a seated Padmapani in its sanctum. The verandah beyond has a big cell on either side of the doorway. The cave also has sculptures of Tara and Avalokitesvara. The imposing apsidal chaitya hall has an elaborate stupn in the rear. A huge figure of Buddha in the praiantbapada posture with Bodhisattvas and vidyadharas is carved in front of the stupn. The pillars separating the nave from the side aisles are simple and octagonal in shape with floral decoration. The vaulted roof exhibits raga-supported ribs. Between the naga ends of the ribs and the tops of the pillars are two friezes. The upper frieze shows figures of Buddha in panels and the lower frieze shows ganas. Besides, the long bas-relief carved in three panels on the balustrade of the minstrel's gallery is especially noteworthy. The balcony is reached by a flight of stairs on the northern side of the verandah. The walls on this first floor have cells and niches containing figures of Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani. Here we also find the Buddhist creed inscribed in characters of eighth-ninth century. The centre of the wall has an opening over which is a trefoil-arch of exquisite beauty. Grouped on either side of the opening, the gandharvas and apsaras, are charming to behold, as are the crowning portions over the niches at either end of the gallery. Bodhisattva Padmapani, however the Bodhisattva of the southern niche remains unidentified. The southern niche has kudu and amalaka designs, the latter suggesting its affinity to temples of the northern style. The design on the northern niche has only kudu motifs. The frieze ofganas at the bottom of each of these is striking. The dancing figures and the mithunas on the parapet are noteworthy.

One of the best of India is the Verul or Ellora caves. A must visit. In the sun-warmed heart of Maharashtra lies Ellora, a timeless symphony in stone. A UNESCO World Heritage treasure, it gathers the voices of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain devotion, each carving a verse in the grand hymn of faith between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. Among these chiseled sanctuaries, Cave 10—Vishvakarma, the Carpenter’s Cave—shines as the serene soul of the Buddhist ensemble. Born in the 7th century under the Rashtrakuta sky, this chaitya-griha breathes the spirit of wood within the endurance of rock. Its basalt walls recall vanished timber halls, each curve and joint whispering the artistry of hands that turned stone supple. The façade blooms with celestial figures, dancing dwarves, and petals of stone that seem to sway in silent prayer. Inside unfolds a hall vast and still, held aloft by 28 pillars—octagonal sentinels crowned with leaves and urns carved from memory. And there, at the farthest end, rises the stupa, crowned by the tranquil Buddha in his teaching mudra, bathed in the play of shadow and light. Around him float sculpted apsaras, and bodhisattvas stand as if listening to the eternal lesson of compassion. Above, the roof bends like the ribs of a wooden ark, where carved beams and rafters trace the illusion of forgotten timber. Morning sunlight, slipping through the great horseshoe window, falls like a benediction across the silent stone, filling the air with a dreamlike gold. Beyond the hall rest quiet chambers—monks’ cells, humble shrines, and living tales of Buddha’s past lives etched in relief. And if you hum a single note, the cave will answer in echoing reverence, carrying your voice through centuries, until it merges with the meditative hush of eternity. Observe Grooves and experience the echo or acoustic with closed eyes.

🌟佛教石窟 — 靜謐莊嚴的修行天地 💡重點整理： 📍位置：艾羅拉石窟 第1～12號 🕰建造時期：西元7～9世紀 ✨特色：僧院式建築、佛塔與佛像雕刻、大乘佛教晚期風格 🛕佛教石窟（1～12號）— 靜修與學習的神聖殿堂 艾羅拉的佛教石窟主要建於7～9世紀，其中 第10號是支提（Chaitya，佛殿），而其餘的則是毗訶羅（Vihara，僧院）。這些石窟原本是僧人們靜修、學習的地方，與印度教石窟的華麗風格不同，這裡更強調莊嚴寧靜的氛圍。 1～10 號石窟的設計較為簡單，而 11、12 號石窟的規模較大，結構也更複雜，可能是為了與壯麗的印度教石窟互相輝映。 📌建築與雕刻特色： ✅佛像雕刻：大多為一佛二脅侍的三尊形式，並且有菩薩與女神陪伴，展現大乘佛教晚期的藝術風格。 ✅建築風格：雖然不如印度教石窟華麗，但已經擺脫「笈多時期（Gupta）」的古典風格，展現出獨特的雕刻美學。 🏆第10號石窟 — 木匠之窟「維什瓦卡馬」 這座石窟被稱為「維什瓦卡馬」（Viswakarma），意思是 「木匠」，因為它的拱形石窟頂宛如用木頭雕刻而成，是艾羅拉唯一的佛殿（支提），也是印度最精美的佛教支提之一！ 💡建築特色： ✅兩層建築，門面雕刻精美，展現佛教藝術的精髓。 ✅上層窗戶從馬蹄形改為三葉形，光線透過窗戶灑落，增添神聖感。 ✅護法天神「飛天」雕刻：窗戶兩側上方各雕有三位一組的飛天，極具動感！ ✅佛塔與佛陀雕像： 🔹石窟內後方供奉著 3.3 公尺高的笈多式佛陀，氣勢莊嚴。 🔹佛塔設計典雅，讓整個空間更顯神聖與莊重。 📌旅遊小提醒 ✅適合喜歡佛教文化、雕刻藝術的旅人，這裡比印度教石窟更安靜，氛圍寧靜祥和。 ✅光線透過窗戶灑進來的時候最美，特別是早晨和午後！ ✅細看飛天雕刻，真的超精緻，完全不輸印度教石窟的華麗感！ 艾羅拉的佛教石窟雖然低調，但卻蘊含著無窮的靜謐之美，讓人彷彿能感受到當年僧侶們潛心修行的氛圍。來這裡，真的會讓人心靜下來！💙🙏🏻

It's Buddhist cave, so peaceful and beautiful. It's very old and stone carved like others. It felt very serene. There was this cleaning/security guy told us story about it and it was amazing.

One of the iconic Bhuddhist caves Ellora. Unique architecture and gives you the feel of how monks used to live centuries ago.

This is a Buddhist monastery which houses a big Buddha statue. One of the best things is that Voice echoes in this cave .In case if you sing your voice will get echoed in this cave . This is also known by cave no. 10

Ellora's Cave No. 10, the Vishwakarma Cave, is a historically captivating sight. As the only chaitya (prayer hall) among the Buddhist caves, its architecture, carved to imitate wooden beams and a vaulted ceiling, is a marvel of rock-cut artistry. The grand statue of Buddha seated in a preaching pose provides a serene focal point, making it a historically significant and pleasant place to visit.

Caves 1 through 9 are all monasteries while Cave 10, the Vīśvakarmā Cave, is a major Buddhist prayer hallCaves 11 and 12 are three-storied Mahayana monastery caves with idols, mandalas carved into the walls, and numerous goddesses, and Bodhisattva-related iconography, belonging to Vajrayana Buddhism. These are compelling evidence to suggest that Vajrayana and Tantra ideas of Buddhism were well established in South Asia by the 8th-century CE.

The Viswakarma cave is also known locally as the Sutar ki jhopdi owing to the construction style. It is still a splendid work with a large open court in front surrounded by a corridor. Its pillars is carved with various representations. The inner temple, consisting of central naïve and side aisles, measures 85 feet in length, 43 feet width and 34 feet height. The naïve is separated by the aisles by 28 octagonal pillars, 14 feet in height, with plain bracket capitals, while two more square ones just inside the entrance support the gallery above and cut off from the front aisle. The back of the naïve stands a huge stupa nearly 27 feet in height and 16 feet in diameter. It has simple circular base, hemispherical dome and a square capital. It has a large front piece nearly 17 feet in height attached to it, on which is a 11 feet colossal Buddha seated with his feet down, while on the arch over his head is carved the Bodhi Tree, with dwarfs on either side, typical to a Mahayana construction. The arched roof is carved in imitation of wooden ribs, each rising from behind a little Naga bust. The deep frieze above the pillars is divided into two belts, the lower and narrower carved with crowds of fat little ganas in all sitting positions. Needless to say that worshippers used to chant hymns and prayers in chaitya halls and the arched structure echoes nicely. It is said that if we visit this cave early in the morning, any loud voice will echo 3-4 times spanning around a minute. At the ends of the front corridor are two cells and two chapels with the usual Buddha figures. From the left end of the back corridor a stair ascends to the gallery above, which contains an outer one above the corridor and an inner one over the front aisle, separated by the two pillars that divide the lower portion of the great window into three lights. From the outer area, too, small chapels are entered, each containing sculpture of Buddha mythology, and where the very elaborate head-dresses of the females of the period may be studied. Over the chapel to the right of the window is a remarkable group of little fat figures, and the projecting frieze that crowns the façade is elaborately sculpted with pairs of figures in compartments. High up on each side are two small chapels, difficult to access.

Ellora cave 10, teaching Buddha The Buddhist cave was built during the 5th and 7th century.

The double storied Buddhist cathedral-cum-monastery the only chaityagriha at Ellora Cave is stylistically and palaeographically datable to 7 th centuryA. D. beautiful creation of artists, who have copied the contemporary wooden constructions in cave architecture. The most remarkable leature is the Music Gallery (upper floor) and the beautiful carved facade. The facade decorated with a number of friezes of animals, couples and a beautifully carved is window; which allows light to in the cave. It consist of a large courtyard with double storeyed apartments on both sides and an apsidal pillared hall on a raised platform. The spacious hall apsidal on plan, has thirty pillars arranged in an elongated apse. The object of worship is a seated image of preaching Buddha flanked by two Bodhisatvas and celestial couples all carved against the stupa, which serves as an ornamental background. The drum of the stupa is also decorated with panels of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. The ribbed vault gives an echo effectin the hall when a person standing at one end of the columns of the nave creates any sound. The upper floor is approached by a flight of steps cut in to the sidewall of verandah, Itis possible that from this Music-Gallery, background music was provided to the monks, chanting mantras below. It may also have been used for seating important visitors during prayers.

Ellora Cave 10 called Vishwakarma cave of Buddhist caves. One of the beautiful caving and carving of Buddha in Sitting Posture in a big hall and the roof was carved like an elephant ribes makes one feel like inside the body of an elephant. The hall technically made to vibrate and echo the Mantra Chanting and create a mystical experience. Marvelous structure

Beautiful cave with Lord Buddha statue in the centre. Main hall is relatively dark. Lot of carvings on the sides and roof. There are rooms carved out on upper floors too. Per local guides, main hall has a balcony with window strategically built such that sunlight from rising Sun goes through it and illuminates face of Lord Buddha.

Magnificent!!! Nice place..Need almost a full day to visit all the caves. Try to visit in the morning so that you will get enough time to see all the caves.Parking is also available. they maintained cleanliness in all the caves. If you want to visit Vishwakarma mandir specially then please visit cave no 10 and Vishwakarma temple is at the right side under cave no 10. An electric vehicle is available to visit some caves but it's not starting early at 9 am.

Vishwarkarma Cave is the Cave no. 10 of the most popular Ellora Caves, constructed in the 7th Century. It is also known as ‘Sutar ki Jhopdi‘ or ‘Carpenter’s cave‘ owing to the finishing of the rock.

Ellora Cave 10, also known as Vishwakarma Cave, is a unique and fascinating Buddhist shrine. Key Features: * Chaitya Hall: Unlike many other caves, Cave 10 is a Chaitya Hall, a type of Buddhist temple with a large, open hall. * Architectural Marvel: The cave features a large, open court, a magnificent stupa at the far end, and intricately carved pillars. * Wood-like Carvings: The most striking feature is the intricate carvings that mimic wooden structures, giving the cave a unique and almost ethereal appearance. Overall: Cave 10 is a must-visit for those exploring the Ellora Caves. Its unique architecture, intricate carvings, and serene atmosphere make it a truly special experience. Note: This is a brief overview. Visiting the cave in person allows for a deeper appreciation of its unique features and the intricate artistry within.