Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga & Ellora Caves in the Rain Darshan Adventure
September 1, 2025
On 15th August 2025, I finally ticked off one of the items on my bucket list that had been pending for years, seeing the Ellora Caves and the Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple. Nothing could have told me how this trip would go, some history, some spirituality, and some pure monsoon glory that left me amazed.
My Journey – Mumbai to Aurangabad by Train
My journey started in Mumbai itself, the previous night, when we took the Devagiri Express. The seven-hour journey was not just a mode of travel but an experience in itself.
Vendors jumped in and out of tiny stations, selling steaming cups of chai and crispy snacks. The tempo of the train, the rain-streaked windows, and an occasional refreshing monsoon breeze made it unforgettable. We reached Aurangabad at dawn, under grey skies with the intoxicating aroma of wet earth.
Aurangabad to Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga – Through the Rainwashed Countryside
We took a local vehicle (Rickshaw) from Aurangabad station to Ghrushneshwar for ₹600. What might have been an average ride became magical.
The roads were dripping wet, the air was filled with a misty freshness, and the countryside was radiant in monsoon green. Small villages went speeding by our window, children splashing barefoot in the mud, waving happily at cars, buffaloes lounging in ponds, and farmers tilling in soaked fields. The rain didn’t simply moisten the earth; it washed everything clean and alive.
Staying Near the Temple
We stayed in a basic lodge close to Ghrushneshwar (₹2000 a night). Basic, nothing fancy, but clean, homey, and a stone’s throw from the temple. As we were three visitors in the room, it was pocket-friendly as well.
Our whole experience train journey, accommodations, food, transport, and darshan cost us approximately ₹7,000–8,000 for two days. Not too shabby at all, considering what the trip provided us.
Day 1 – Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga & Surroundings
Our first destination was the Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, one of Lord Shiva’s twelve holy shrines. Celebrating Independence Day here made the atmosphere even more lively. With the festive crowd, however, the darshan was peaceful & felt everlasting. Raindrops sparkled on the sculpted stones, and the temple seemed new and ageless.
We then visited the temples and holy places around Ghrushneshwar :
Vishwakarma Temple – in honor of the celestial craftsman. Poetic, as the following day, we would witness Ellora, the finest work of human artistry.
Datta Temple – serene, with prayers and the patter of gentle rain outside. A moment of silence.
Shivalaya Kund – a divine water tank, full to the brim with monsoon rains. Sitting here was like gliding back into the past.
Bhadra & Maruti Mandir – little, humble temples, but in their simplicity lay a home-like spiritual warmth.
By nightfall, the rain hadn’t ceased, but rather than ruining the day, it had washed everything new. We finished the night off with street food hot rotis, dal, and chai that tasted divine after a day of trudging around in the rain.
Day 2 – The Grandeur of Ellora Caves
If Day 1 was mystical peace, on Day 2, there was pure awe. Early that morning, we set out to visit the Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the result was breathtaking a couple of times over.
- Buddhist Caves (1-12): Tranquil halls and serene Buddha statues. In the Carpenter’s Cave, the gigantic seated Buddha seemed to stir. I softly clapped, and the echo swirled back like a chant.
- Hindu Caves (13-29): Pure majesty, I was blown away by the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16). It was carved from a single rock, as if a mountain had been transformed into poetry. Rainwater dripped from the stone lions and elephants, mist clinging to the walls of the temple. My favorite Ravana shaking Mount Kailash was so lifelike it seemed the story was carved mid-motion.
- Jain Caves (30-34): Smaller, quieter, but incredibly intricate. Following Kailasa’s grandeur, these were like secret gems, still and deep.
Before we emerged, drenched to the core, exhausted but grinning, I couldn’t help but wonder about the hands that chiseled this marvel centuries past, with nothing to aid them but chisels and imagination.
Time & Budget at a Glance
- Days Spent: 2 (Day 1 for temples, Day 2 for Ellora)
- Travelers: 3
- Budget: ₹7,000-8,000 (train, transport, lodge, food, darshan)
- Stay: ₹2000 lodge
- Best Time: Monsoon, when the land is green, the air is alive, and history feels freshly washed.
Reflections on the Journey
On August 16, 2025, when the rains subsided, I stood in front of the Ellora complex. The clouds parted, and the evening sun bathed Kailasa Temple in golden light, aglow against the black basalt cliffs. That moment seared itself into me forever.
This journey was not just a trip. It provided me with spiritual satisfaction at Ghrushneshwar, wonder at the majesty of Ellora, and camaraderie-filled moments with friends. And all this within a modest budget, you could call it a gift.
Ellora and Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga are not locations. They are ageless experiences, where religion, history, and nature converge. If you ever get the opportunity, don’t think twice. Go, and preferably go in the rain. Only then will you know them alive.
