Ellora after dark: How immersive heritage events can rewrite India’s cultural tourism story

On a nippy November evening, the large murals and sculptures on the lit-up façade of the eighth-century Kailasa temple in Ellora, the world’s largest human-made monolithic rock structure, come alive. Each mural narrates a story of the ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. Much as Delhi-based Scottish author-historian William Dalrymple does on the stage, set against the backdrop of these rock-cut figures. He brings to life the entire era, connecting India to Java, with a side of the Southeast Asian historical perspective. It is followed by a musical recreation of the landmark 1967 UN General Assembly concert of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin, performed by Pandit Shubhendra Rao and his Dutch cellist-wife Saskia Rao-de Haas. What better way to observe the 80th year of the United Nations (UN) this year than with a spectacle at the Ellora rock-cut caves? The Ellora caves, along with Ajanta, were among the first Indian sites to get the UNESCO World Heritage site status way back in 1983. AIKYAM 2025 ( aikyam in Sanskrit means oneness/unity) witnessed performances by international artists from seven countries and brought together ambassadors and diplomats from over 36 countries. The experience offered glimpses into local Maharashtrian cuisine, dance forms and centuries-old weaving traditions of Himroo fabric and Paithani sari . Serving bespoke heritage When Dr. Scott Robert Hearnden, an international researcher from Australia, who has been living in Delhi for the last four years, arrived in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) for the curated heritage tour last month, the changes were visible. His five-star hotel had a traditional welcome arranged for him. He walked into a live demonstration of traditional music where men and women clad in dhoti , kurta and nauvari (nine-yard saris) danced to the beat of dhol-tasha . The welcome drinks were local Maharashtrian specialities like solkadhi (a cooling drink). Awaiting him was a hamper with local specialities: goodies and an exquisite handcrafted metallic replica of the Ajanta dancing girl in Bidriwork, bright handwoven tablemats, and a Himroo silk-cotton shawl . “In the last 20 years that I have been coming to India, the experience has changed dramatically. There is an ability to have an immersive experience in India now. It will be helpful to have more information out into the world about what is available, and how people who are not from India can have that experience. We rely on our tour operators to curate experiences for us. Access to authentic experiences by ourselves is still a challenge,” he says. Laavni dance as part of local cultural traditions at AIKYAM 2025. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Modaks as part of the focus on local cuisine at AIKYAM 2025. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Heritage tour to Ajanta caves at AIKYAM 2025. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Heritage tour to Ajanta and Ellora caves at AIKYAM 2025. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Diplomats, speakers, artists and performers at Ellora caves as part of AIKYAM 2025. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Global Tourism rankings published by the World...

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