Location : In the state of Maharashtra in the
western coast of India.
Major Tourist Attractions : Ajanta Cave Temples,
Ellora Cave Temples
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Aurangabad, Mumbai,
Nagpur, Pune.
When to Visit : October to March
About Ajanta Ellora
Nestled in the hills near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra are
two magical locations displaying the artistry of the yore, cut out
of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding
specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. These caves are
none other than the famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora. This city is
all geared for tourists who flock in from all over the world to see
these exceptional beauty. The brilliance of their imagery and the
fact that they were carved between the 2nd century BC and the 8th
century AD is highly inspiring.
At Ajanta, more than 2,000 years ago artists literally carved
monasteries and temples out of solid rock. There are sculptures and
fabulously preserved frescoes that monumentalize a 2,000-year-old
civilisation by displaying its daily life as well as the epic
stories of its religion. Around the 7th century AD, Ajanta was
abandoned by its creators for some unknown reason, and they moved to
Ellora (30 km from Aurangabad). At about this time Buddhism was
fading in India. The cave temples that were found in the hills of
Ellora over the next six centuries exhibits Buddhist as well as
Hindu and Jain mythology.
Major Tourist Attractions in Ajanta Ellora
Ajanta Caves
Lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain
side, above the Waghora river, are the awesome Ajanta group of
caves, captivating tourists from all over. It was only in the 19th
century, when a group of British officers on a tiger hunt discovered
this artistry of yore. The caves at Ajanta depict the story of
Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD.
The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks,
who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the
ancient seats of learning, and nerve - centres of the Buddhist
cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the
monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these
structures.
Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a
basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave
- temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and exquisitely
adorned interiors. These structures representing the three faiths of
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700
AD period.
The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre
dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. All of
Ellora's cave-temples are awesome in size and detail; the most
breathtaking of them is the Kailasa Temple, the world's largest
monolithic structure, sculptured as intricately as if it were an
ivory miniature.
Getting There
Air
: Aurangabad (99 kilometres from Ajanta and 30 km from Ellora)
is the ideal base to visit Ajanta and ellora, is directly linked to
Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, and Mumbai.
Rail : Aurangabad is directly linked to Mumbai and Pune.
Jalgaon, a railhead on the Central Railways line, is 59 kilometres
from Ajanta.
Road : The excellent road network in Maharashtra links the
caves of Ajanta and Ellora with Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon,
Shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Bijapur, and
Aurangabad.
Accommodation
In order to make your travel tour to Ajanta-Ellora memorable you
need to choose the right kind of accommodation for you and your
family or friends. Aurangabad makes for a convenient base for a trip
to the caves of Ajanta-Ellora. The various hotel available in
Aurangabad offer you the best of facilities and services. You may
take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in
Aurangabad, besides the star categorised accommodations around the
landmarks of Ajanta-Ellora that offer fabulous views from their
suites.
Maharashtra
Travel Guide
