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Ajanta Ellora Caves In Aurangabad
The ancient Ajanta Ellora caves in Aurangabad , carved
out of solid rocks by human hands, are situated in Maharashtra. The 34 caves at
Ellora and 29 at Ajanta are an architectural masterpiece which depict ancient
India's rich cultural heritage. The caves could have remained hidden from the
world as they did for thousands of years, but thanks to a British Army Officer,
John Smith who discovered them accidentally in 1819 while on a hunting expedition
in the area.
Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves which depict the history of Buddhism between 200 BC to 650 AD
have been designated as a World Heritage Site. The caves were mainly built as
a worshipping and residing place for the Buddhist monks. The beautifully carved
sculptures and paintings on the walls of these structures depict Buddha's life
and also his lives in the previous births as detailed in the allegorical Jataka
tales. Other images such as court scenes, street scenes, animals and birds have
also been ornately done.
Five of the caves are chaityas or prayer halls and the rest are viharas or monasteries.
The caves which are not numbered chronologically but in terms of access present
the thoughts of two different schools of Buddhist followers, the Hinayana who
depicted Buddha in the form of symbols like the stupa, a set of footprints or
a throne and the Mahayana sect which gave Buddha a human form. In ancient times,
each cave was accessed from the riverfront by individual staircases whereas now
a terraced path has been built for tourists.
Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, one of the finest specimens of ancient Indian culture, are
carved out of a basaltic hill, 30 km from Aurangabad. Unlike the Ajanta caves,
the Ellora caves remained a main attraction for people over centuries, largely
because they lay on a more frequented route. Out of the 34 caves, 12 are Buddhist
lying on the far right, 17 are Hindu in the centre and 5 on the left are Jain
caves. Not too far away in terms of distance from Ajanta, the Ellora caves are
known more for their architecture rather than sculptural aesthetics, as in the
case of the Ajanta caves.
The Buddhist Cave 12 or the Tin Tala is a three storeyed structure which is
very simple looking with unadorned pillars and the sculptured panels only on
the inside walls, but its value lies in the fact that it was carved out of solid
rock completely by human hands using simple stone tools. Another major attraction
of the Ellora caves is the Kailasa temple or cave 16 which is the largest monolithic
structure in the world, believed to have been started by the Rashtrakuta king
Krishna I.
Tourst Attractions in Ajanta Ellora Caves
» Grishneshwar : Though there are lots of tourist attractions in
Ajantha Ellora Caves, the very famous spot is Grishneshwar which is the Shiva
Temple is one of the twelve holy Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva, spread across the
country. The temple situated a kilometer from the caves is deeply revered by
the Hindus.
» Khuldabad : 
Situated at a distance of 3 km
from the Ellora caves, the little town of Khuldabad is a holy place for the
Deccan Muslims. It is also the final resting place of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.
» Daulatabad : The another important tour spot is Daulatabad,
whihc is the hill fort of Daulatabad, a stronghold of the Hindu dynasty of the
Yadavas is situated about 13 km from Ellora. Earlier known as Devgiri, it was
renamed Daultabad by Sultan Mohammad Bin Tughlaq in the 12th century.
Getting There
» By Air : Chikalthana Airport located at Aurangabad (106 km)
is the nearest airport. It is connected through regular flights with all major
Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur.
» By Rail : Jalgaon (59 km) is the nearest railhead from where
express trains are available to reach Mumbai and Delhi. Aurangabad is another
important railway station which connects to all the major cities of the country
including Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Bhopal.
» By Road : The Tourist Attractions in Ajanta Ellora Caves can be
accessed via Aurangabad which is well connected to all neighbouring cities by
state run buses.
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