AJANTA ELLORA CAVES VACATIONS

Ajanta-Ellora - Poetry in Stone

The names Ajanta and Ellora may often be used synonymously but are known for seperate reasons. The caves of Ajanta are famed of the itricate paintings and murals while Ellora is better known for its neatly carved sculputures in stone. Lying tucked away from the rest of the world for hundreds of years in the lap of the western ghats, the glorious temples were moulded of solid rock centuries ago around 600 AD. Declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO, these magnificent caves, enclosed in lush greenery promise the experience of a lifetime with its intricate artistic details and a rich cultural heritage. The heritage might have remained obscured if it had not been for John Smith, a British army officer who accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedtion.

Ajanta Caves

The 29 caves of Ajanta were discovered in the early part of the 19th century, until which they lay hidden in the depths of the Sahyadri hills along the curved mountain side overlooking the shimmering waters of river Waghora. The mock narrators in stone, carved by Buddhist monks using simple tools as chisel and hammer, tell a tale of Buddhism through the ages including the famed Jataka tales about the several reincarnations of Gautam Buddha. The caves which acted as quite retreat for Buddhist manastic orders are adorned with intricately carved murals and sculptures that speak volumes of the architectural prowess in those times.

Ellora Caves

Situated 30 km off Aurangabad, the Ellora caves are a finest specimen of temple architecture with 34 caves carved into the side of a curved basaltic hill. The unique feature of the structures lies in the fact that it beautifully combines the three faith lines of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, each being given its own place and importance. Constructed around the period between 350 AD to 700 AD, the 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, 17 at the centre Hindu and 5 to the north represent Jainism.

The intricate sculptures in the caves represent the nobility and grace inherent in these religions. Caves 6 and 10 contain images both from the Buddhist and Hindu religions with the latter one being an immaculate two storeyed structure. The Kailasa Temple situated in cave 16 is an amazing piece of ancient architecture, being carved of a monolith, a monumental task for the said times with the entire process taking over a hundred years to complete.