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Since 1983 , Ajanta & Ellora caves have been recorded among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India . It is maintained by the by the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) . India’s magnificent rock-cut sanctuaries, monasteries, and temples offer travelers an unrivaled cultural experience, transporting them back to the formative stage of art and architecture for India’s indigenous religions.
AJANTA CAVES :
Ajanta is unique among India’s cave sites because it includes not only elements of significant architectural interest, but also well-preserved 5th century wall paintings of a caliber that is unrivaled in the history of Indian art.
LOCATION :
The caves at Ajanta — located 100 kilometers northeast of Aurangabad and 455 kilometers northeast of Mumbai — sit in a southeast-facing, horseshoe-shaped valley cut by the Waghora River; they are spread over a 0.6 kilometer curve in the valley. The site is closed on Mondays.
Depending upon your fitness level and desire for a little exercise, it is also worth considering a 30- minute trek to the “viewpoint”, which offers an unrivaled view of the entire complex. To get there, look for the signs as you approach the eastern entrance to the caves; it can also be accessed from inside the site by following the steps in front of Caves 16 and 17 down to a footbridge.
INTERESTING FACTS :
- Ajanta consists of 29 Buddhist caves (some unfinished), the grandest achievement of the first wave of rock-cut architecture in India.
- The caves are clearly numbered from one to 29 .
- There are two basic types of caves at Ajanta 1. sanctuary chaityas caves (basically prayer halls ) ; Caves no 19 and 26 and 2. viharas ( Monasteries with residents) ; Caves no 1- 7, 11, 14-18, 20-25, and 27-29 .
- Inside the caves you can experience paintings portraying the life of Goutam Buddha and also some stories from Jataka Tales .
ELLORA CAVES :
ELLORA CAVES are one of the gigantic and the last great rock-cut monasteries cave in the world.
LOCATION :
The 34 caves at Ellora — located 30 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad and 350 kilometers northeast of Mumbai — are spread out over 2.2 kilometers along a north-south running escarpment; for the most part, caves face westward. Most visitors enter the site and begin their touring at Cave 16, Kailasa. The site is closed on Tuesdays.
INTERESTING FACTS :
- Just as Ajanta is known for its world-class paintings , Ellora has two standout features that rank it as one of India’s greatest cultural sites:
- Caves from India’s three great indigenous religions. Unlike the prior sites’ single religious orientations — Ajanta (Buddhist) and Elephanta (Hindu) — Ellora has rock-cut architecture by three indigenous faiths: Buddhism (Caves 1-12), Hinduism (Caves 13-29), and Jainism (Caves 30-34).
- The stunning Hindu Kailasa temple (Cave 16). The ultimate expression of the rock-cut building tradition initiated nearly 1000 years before at Ajanta, magnificent Kailasa was the last Hindu rock-cut temple excavated in India.
- All of Ellora’s caves are hewn out of solid basalt, the volcanic stone of the Western Ghats mountain range that forms the western border of the Deccan Plateau .
- The ELLORA Complex has 5 Jain , 12 Buddhist and 17 Hindu caves .
Dashavatara cave (no 15) is popular for portraying the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu .
BEST TIME FOR VISIT :
Due to pleasant weather , June to March are the best time to visit Ajanta & Ellora caves . Monsoon and winter are the perfect time to explore . It’s a little bit difficult to travel in the scorching heat of April and May .
SOURCE : The Caves Of India : Ajanta & Ellora by David Razer & Jennifer Raezer .
