Dashavatara Cave (Cave 15)
Cave 15 sits close to Kailasa in both location and period. It helps place Cave 16 within the wider Brahmanical sequence at Ellora.
Google Maps ↗ ASI source listing ↗
The map button opens a Google Maps search for this place; it is not a verified place listing or a surveyed entrance.
Independent guide · Page reviewed 9 November 2026 · ASI listing consulted 2026-10-29
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) is one monument within the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. Prices, opening status and routes are dated listings to re-check, not live confirmations.
A Brahmanical neighbour
UNESCO dates the broader Brahmanical group, Caves 13–29, roughly to the 7th–10th centuries. Cave 15 belongs to that sequence, while ASI attributes Cave 16 specifically to the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I (c. 757–783).
The cave is associated with Vaishnava imagery, including the dashavatara (ten avatars) theme from which its common name comes. Inscriptions at Ellora are an important part of how the site’s chronology is discussed; consult ASI and UNESCO material for specific readings.
Why visit it with Cave 16
Seeing Cave 15 and Cave 16 together shows the range of Brahmanical rock-cut design: excavated halls and sculptural programmes on one hand, and a complete monolithic temple on the other.
Confirm current access with ASI before adding it to a route, since conservation work can close individual caves.
Reviewed 9 November 2026. Inscriptional and iconographic details should be checked against ASI and UNESCO material.
Practical notes
Admission follows the ASI-listed Ellora Caves categories and the sunrise-to-sunset window with a weekly Tuesday closure. This guide does not publish a separate Cave 15 ticket, fixed walking distance or guaranteed viewing conditions.
Practical facts
| Type | Brahmanical rock-cut cave, Ellora Cave 15 |
|---|---|
| Group | Brahmanical caves 13–29, broadly 7th–10th centuries per UNESCO |
| Part of | Ellora Caves, UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed 1983 |
| Admission | ASI-listed Ellora Caves entry; confirm current access |
Only fields supported by ASI or UNESCO material, or explicitly marked for confirmation, are shown here. No rating, fee or opening hour is claimed as verified.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cave 15 the same monument as Kailasa Temple?
No. Kailasa is Cave 16; Cave 15 is a separate Brahmanical excavation nearby.
What does Dashavatara mean?
It refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, a sculptural theme associated with this cave.
Is Cave 15 open to visitors?
Current access is not verified here. Confirm with ASI on the day, as individual caves can close for conservation.
Sources and review limits
Page reviewed 9 November 2026. The ASI Ellora Caves page was consulted 2026-10-29; that review is not an on-site inspection, and no clear page-update date was visible on the ASI listing. A Google Maps snapshot or a UNESCO property coordinate is not a verified entrance, ticket counter or accessibility survey.
- Archaeological Survey of India: Ellora Caves — identity, historical attribution, listed opening hours and admission categories.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Ellora Caves — the 1983 inscription, the ensemble and its artistic significance.
- ASI official ticket service — check the actual visit date, eligibility and current charge.
- Google Maps: Kailasa Temple — dated manual snapshot, not site-collected reviews.
No business name, price, timetable, distance, star rating or review score is published here without verification. Temporary closures, conservation work and special orders may override any general listing.