Kailasa Temple and the Ellora UNESCO World Heritage Site
The World Heritage listing is for the Ellora Caves property. Kailasa Temple is Cave 16 within it, not a separate UNESCO inscription of its own.
Google Maps ↗ ASI source listing ↗
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.
What was inscribed
UNESCO inscribed the Ellora Caves on the World Heritage List in 1983. The property encompasses caves associated with Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain traditions; UNESCO describes 34 caves in its account of the ensemble.
That scope matters. Saying “Kailasa Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site” is a convenient shorthand, but the precise statement is that Cave 16 forms part of the inscribed Ellora Caves property.
Why the ensemble matters
The coexistence of Buddhist chaityas, Brahmanical rock-cut temples and Jain caves at one site is central to the property’s significance. Comparing Cave 16 with Cave 10, Cave 21, Cave 29 or the Indra Sabha (Cave 32) shows the range that the inscription protects.
UNESCO’s property reference point, 20.02639, 75.17917, identifies the ensemble. It is not a ticket counter, a drop-off point or a surveyed entrance to Cave 16.
Conservation and visitor responsibility
A protected property is managed under conservation rules that can restrict individual caves or routes. ASI is the managing authority for the site, and its listing gives sunrise-to-sunset visiting with a weekly Tuesday closure. Temporary conservation work can override the general listing.
Visitors help protect the property by staying out of closed areas, not touching carved surfaces and following current ASI instructions. This independent guide is separate from ASI, UNESCO and temple management.
Reviewed 9 November 2026. Sources: UNESCO Ellora Caves property record and ASI Ellora Caves page (consulted 29 October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Is Kailasa Temple separately UNESCO-listed?
No. The 1983 inscription covers the Ellora Caves property; Kailasa is Cave 16 within that property.
How many caves are at Ellora?
UNESCO describes 34 caves associated with Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain traditions.
Is the UNESCO coordinate the temple entrance?
No. 20.02639, 75.17917 is a property reference point, not a verified gate or ticket counter.
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.