Whispers in Stone: My First Journey to Kailasa Temple

The promise was born in Lithuania, whispered to myself on a winter night: One day, I will stand before Kailasa Temple.  Years passed, and as my 44th birthday approached, I found myself in India, tracing a route to the legendary Ellora Caves—on a motorcycle, no less. The dream felt both distant and inevitable, like a story waiting for its final chapter.

The trip wasn’t a spontaneous adventure. I had mapped out every detail, determined to make the journey as meaningful as the destination. It took me two days to ride from Mumbai to Ellora, each mile on the motorcycle a meditation on anticipation and resolve. The road was long but never lonely—every turn brought new sights, new challenges, and a growing sense that I was moving closer to something sacred.

September 2024. The Deccan plateau shimmered under the monsoon’s last embrace, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and possibility. I almost didn’t make it. Days before my planned departure, the trip seemed doomed—no reliable bike, my vision of riding to Ellora dissolving in the Mumbai humidity. Then, on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, my phone buzzed. A stranger’s voice, warm and accented, crackled through: “You still want the bike?” That evening, as the city pulsed with festival energy, I glanced at the registration papers outside my hostel. The owner’s name? Ganesh. A shiver ran through me. Divine timing, I realized, doesn’t shout—it whispers.

The ride itself was a blur: dusty roads, rolling hills, and sudden downpours that turned the landscape into a living watercolor. The Deccan’s stark beauty unfolded mile by mile, each turn a new revelation. By the time I reached the gates of Cave 16—Kailasa—I was soaked, exhilarated, and oddly calm. Before me stood not just a temple, but a mountain transformed by human devotion. Carved top-down from a single basalt rock by 7th-century artisans, Kailasa’s shikhara soared skyward, as if Shiva himself had sculpted the heavens.

Stepping inside, time seemed to dissolve. Cool air, tinged with the scent of ancient stone, wrapped around me. My fingers traced the intricate carvings: Shiva dancing the cosmic tandava and Parvati’s gaze both fierce and tender. Pillared halls echoed with the faint hum of distant chants, each note curling around my heart. I sat cross-legged in a patch of sunlight spilling through sculpted arches, feeling the pulse of centuries beneath my skin. Who were these artisans, I wondered, pouring their souls into stone? Their hands, long gone, seemed to linger in every curve and shadow.

A local guide named Raju appeared, his eyes bright with pride. “See the elephants?” he said, pointing to the massive carvings that seemed to bear the temple’s weight. “They guard Shiva’s home.” His stories wove legend into reality: Kailasa was built in just 18 years, a feat so impossible that locals still swear divine hands guided the chisels. I listened, spellbound, as we wandered through the halls. Later, sipping chai at a roadside stall, I watched monkeys dart across the caves, their mischief a reminder that the sacred and the playful coexist here.

The silence, both inside and outside, was what most struck me. Even with crowds, Kailasa felt like a secret. The quiet wasn’t emptiness, but presence: an invitation to listen. The shrine wasn’t just a place of worship; it was a hymn to creation, each stone a note in Shiva’s eternal song. As I left, the temple’s grandeur lingered, urging me to pause, to breathe, to carry its quiet with me.

Next, I’ll chase Shiva’s grace and clarity through Maharashtra’s wild heart—Bhimashankar’s forested trails, Trimbakeshwar’s ancient chants, and Grishneshwar’s intimate glow. But for now, Kailasa holds me still, its whispers echoing in my soul.

Tips for Visiting Kailasa Temple

Best Time to Visit: October to March offers the coolest weather, but I went in September and the monsoon magic was unforgettable.

Getting There: Ellora is about 30 km from Aurangabad. If you’re up for an adventure, plan your route well—my own journey took two days by motorcycle from Mumbai, and every mile was worth it. Otherwise, hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw (INR 500–800 round trip) from Aurangabad for a hassle-free journey.

Entry Fees: INR 40 for Indian citizens, INR 600 for foreigners (2025 rates). The site is open 6 AM–6 PM, closed on Tuesdays.

Etiquette: Dress modestly—cover your shoulders and knees. Photography is allowed outside, but restricted in the sanctums.

Pro Tip: Hire a local guide (INR 500–1,000) to unlock hidden stories and details. Start early to avoid the heat and crowds. Buy peanuts or fruit from local vendors for the monkeys—locals say it brings good fortune, and the monkeys seem to agree, waiting by the gates for your offering.

Kailasa taught me that sacred places don’t just stand—they hold energy, stillness, and stories. If you listen, they speak.

What place has whispered to you?

With wanderlust and wonder,

Agnius V.

Follow for more Travel tips in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and if you are interested in the book that i finished while traveling, here is the place to get it --- https://a.co/d/8WvLwcq You can find hard copies on Amazon as well.