AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES - AURANGABAD , INDIA

AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES - AURANGABAD, INDIA

Ajantha & Ellora are 28 – 30 rock-cut cave monuments created during the first century BC and 5th century AD, containing paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art.

The caves are located just outside the village of Ajantha / Ellora in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Since 1983, the Ajanta & Ellora Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

SOME FACTS ABOUT AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES :

1. People believed that some of the Buddhist monks had spent some time here at the time of monsoon as they are forbidden from traveling , in that period of time , they had made many beautiful creative paintings on the wall cave . 

2. It was solely in 1819, once Jon Smith, United Nations agency belonged to the twenty eighth Cavalry accidentally chanced upon the horse-shoe formed rock whereas looking a tiger in and round the Deccan highland region. the doorway to the cave like structures intrigued land official enough to form them cross the Waghora stream within the neighborhood and reach the caves. Soon, archaeologic specialists excavated the sites and therefore the news of discovery of those caves unfold like wild hearth creating it a rapid hit among European travelers.

3.There were also huge Buddhist mounds like stupas built here , massive pillars and detailed carving on the ceiling makes it a big news .

4.Second period of construction was started under the rule of Emperor Harishena of Vakataka Dynasty.Close to twenty cave temples were at the same time engineered that fit the fashionable day monasteries with a sanctum within the tail end of the structure

5.The Ajanta caves ar home to paintings and sculptures that depict significant influence of Buddhist philosophy and spiritual teachings of religious mystic. varied incidents from the lifetime of Gautam Buddha and therefore the Jataka Tales ar described and recreated on the walls of those caves. Scenes from the royal court of the individual eras are painted.

6.Through his life, Buddha was against the thought of sculpting and painting pictures of him. He  preached that life was a method through that one should overcome want so as to achieve salvation or nirvana.

7.Ater the death of Lord buddha , the followers who worshiped him decided to paint his images so that they would had something to hold on.

8. These caves are 2,000 years old , and buddha statues are placed here 600 years before.

How to Reach :

By Road : It is connected with excellent roadways network from  Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Bijapur, and Aurangabad.There are several buses available from Aurangabad central bus Station .

By Train : There are two major junctions two reach here and is connected via major train all across India . these are Jalgaon and Aurangabad Railways Junction.The train rides are very convinient and comfortable.