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Ajanta
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Ellora
Caves,
Maharashtra,
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for visit to Ajanta
and Ellora
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and Ellora Tour,
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Ajanta and Ellora
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in Maharashtra.
Click Here to Visit the world heritage site
Ajanta and Ellora.
Ajanta
and Ellora
rock-cut caves of
both the sites are
world famous and
illustrate the degree
of skill and artistry
that Indian craftsmen
had achieved several
hundred years ago.
Ajanta
dates from 100 B.C.
while Ellora
is younger by some
600 years. The village
of Ajanta is in
the Sahyadri hills,
about 99 kms. From
Aurangabad; a few
miles away in a
mammoth horseshoe-formed
rock, are 30 caves
overlooking a gorge,
`each forming a
room in the hill
and some with inner
rooms. Al these
have been carved
out of solid rock
with little more
than a hammer and
chisel and the faith
and inspiration
of Buddhism.
Here, for the Buddhist
monks, the artisans
excavated Chaityas
(chapels) for prayer
and Viharas (monasteries)
where they lived
and taught. Many
of the caves have
the most exquisite
detailed carvings
on the walls, pillars
and entrances as
well as magnificent
wall paintings.
Ellora:
The
cave temples and
monasteries at Ellora,
excavated out of
the vertical face
of an escarpment,
are 26 km north
of Aurangabad. Extending
in a linear arrangement,
the 34 caves contain
Buddhist Chaityas
, or halls of worship,
and Viharas , or
monasteries, Hindu
and Jai temples.
Spanning
a period of about
600 years between
the 5 th and 11
th century AD, the
earliest excavation
here is of the Dhumar
Lena (Cave 29).The
most imposing excavation
is, without doubt,
that of the magnificent
Kailasa Temple (Cave
16) which is the
largest monolithic
structure in the
world. Interestingly,
Ellora, unlike the
site of Ajanta,
was never ?rediscovered?.
Known as Verul in
ancient times, it
has continuously
attracted pilgrims
through the centuries
to the present day.
Ellora
has been designed
as a World Heritage
Site, to be preserved
as an artistic legacy
that will continue
to inspire and enrich
the lives of generations
to come.
Main
attractions Ellora:
Kailasa
Temple Ellora
The
largest monolithic
structure in the
world
The other Buddhist
caves as well as
the first few Hindu
caves are fairly
unremarkable and
do not prepare you
for the magnificence
of Kailasa Temple
or Cave 16. Believed
to have been started
by the Rashtrakuta
king, Krishna I,
Its excavation must
rank as an architectural
wonder.
The
temple is dedicated
to Shiva and named
for his mountain
home in the Himalayas,
the snow- peak Kailasa.
The main shrine
and the Nandi mandapa
are built on a plinth,
over 7.8 metres
high, with its entire
vertical surface
carved with mythical
animals and gargoyles.
The
Main temple
This
is flanked on either
side by two free-
standing pillars,
soaring some 15.9
metres high. These
gracefully proportioned
pillars are believed
to have once borne
the trishul or trident
of Shiva.
Two
storeys of corridors
have been carved
into the mountain,
ringing the temple
on three sides.
These corridors
are studded with
small alcoves, all
containing a wealth
of sculpted figures
telling the tales
of the great Hindu
epics, the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana.
Among the narrative
friezes is the descent
of river Ganga,
and one of Ravana
shaking Mount Kailasa.
The architectural
style and intricate
sculpture is similar
to Virupaksha Temple
at Pattadakal that
had been completed
a decade before.
How
to Reach Ajanta
and Ellora
Air:
Chikalthana airport
at Aurangabad (30
kms) is the nearest
airfield and is
directly linked
to Mumbai, Delhi,
Jaipur and Udaipur.
Rail:
Aurangabad, the
closest railhead,
is directly connected
to Mumbai, Delhi,
Agra, and Bhopal.
Alternatively you
could take a bus
or taxi to Jalgaon,
a mainline junction
from where you get
faster express trains
to Mumbai and Delhi.
Road:
Aurangabad is connected
to all major cities
and towns by good
roads. The Maharashtra
State Road Transport
Corporation runs
ordinary and luxury
buses from here
to Mumbai (392 kms)
Timings: 9 am to
5 pm, except Mondays
and national holidays.
Best time
to visit Ellora
October to March,
although the monsoon
months of July-August
are also highly
recommended for
the heightened scenic
beauty of the area.
