Location : Maharashtra,
India
Best time to Visit : November to March
Cave Timings : 9:00 AM to 17:30 PM (Ajanta Caves remain
closed on Monday while Ellora on Tuesday)
Entry Fees : Rs. 10 (Indians), $5 (foreigners)
About Ajanta-Ellora
India is full of such myriad features that will leave you amazed. While a
place may seem such that could compete with the most modernised of cities in
the world, just a short walk away would take you to a world steeped in
history and time. The west Indian state of Maharashtra is known for the fast
pace of Mumbai and the industrialised city of Aurangabad. But a stones throw
away from this industrial capital will take you to a life that seems to be
frozen in time, a series of ancient rock cut caves that can be summed up as
no less than sheer poetry in stone. Ajanta and Ellora, as they are known,
are the pride of Maharashtra. The rock hewn caves of both these sites
display the amazing artistry prowess of Indian craftsmen mastered several
centuries ago. The caves at Ajanta date back from 100 BC while those at
Ellora are newer by some 600 years.
Ajanta is a quaint village located in the Sahyadri hills, some 100 km from
Aurangabad. Carved out of solid rock here is a series of caves overlooking a
gorge. Devoted to the faith and inspiration of Buddhism, the caves, believed
to have been constructed using simple tools as chisel and hammer, consist of
Chaityas (chapels) for prayer and Viharas (monasteries) where the monks
would live and teach. Most of these caves are ornate with minute carvings on
its walls as well as neatly done murals on the entrances.
From the History Books
The caves lay hidden for hundreds of years until the 19th century when a
group of British officers on a hunting expedition accidentally stumbled upon
them and became witness to one of the most talked of discoveries in modern
times. The paintings and sculptures depicting Lord Buddha's life became
world famous since the times and were even displayed in the Crystal Palace
exhibition in London in 1866. The caves are a protected monument under the
archaeological survey of India and have also been listed in the list of
World Heritage sites.
Ajanta Caves
The 30 caves of Ajanta were built over a span of 600 years starting from
100 BC. The carvings and sculptures found here provide an extensive detail
of life and lifestyle in ancient India exhibiting every particular as hair
styles, ornaments, musical instruments, textiles, customs etc. Amazed
visitors are often confronted with the question as to how such intricate
work could have been made possible in the dark interiors of these caves
where limited light could make its way through. The caves are illuminated by
natural light for a part of the day and it is assumed that mirrors and water
filled in holes made on the ground were used to reflect light on to the
walls during other times.
Prominent among the Ajanta group are Cave 26 with its elaborate and
beautifully painted sculptures and frescoes, Cave 19 which houses a standing
Buddha and a seated Nagaraja with his consort and attendant, Cave 16, an
elegant vihara with an inscription on the king and ministers who built the
cave. Other important caves are number 1,2 and 17. Away from the set of
caves, it is well worth to have a look at the horseshoe shaped gorge and the
indigenous water system that provided water to the monks and the visitors.
Ellora Caves
A little away from Ajanta lies another group of cave temples and
monasteries known as Ellora, just 26 km north of Aurangabad. The 34 caves
consist of Buddha chaityas, viharas, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning over a
period of 600 years between the 5th and 11th century, the earliest known
excavation at the group is the Dhumar Lena or cave 29. The most impressive
construction of the group, however, is the Kailasa Temple or cave 16, which
is the largest monolithic structure in the world. The caves at Ellora have
been designated as a world heritage site. The classification of the caves
can be done as Buddhist Caves : 1 to 12 at the Southern end (built between
5th to 7th century AD), Hindu Caves : 13 to 29 in the middle (built between
8th to 10th century AD) and Jain Caves : 30 to 34 to the north (built
between 9th to 11th century AD).
Attractions Around Ajanta-Ellora
Grishneshwar
The ancient pilgrimage site revered as the abode of one of the 12 sacred
jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is situated just 11 km from Aurangabad. Also
known as Ghushmeshwar, the temple was constructed by Ahilyabhai Holkar and
is thronged by tourists and devotees from around the country.
Khuldabad
Situated just 22 km from Aurangabad, Khuldabad is an important shrine for
the Muslims housing the tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It is believed
that the tomb was built with a few rupees earned by the emperor by stitching
cloth caps. On his tomb are inscribed the words 'no marble sheets should
protect me from the open sky as I lie here one with the earth'.
Daulatabad
About 30 km northwest of Aurangabad, Daultabad is a village named after the
former glorious city of the Mughals. The hill top fort here is a major
tourist attraction.
Stay At
While visiting the caves of Ajanta-Ellora, it is best to stay at Aurangabad
from where the caves can be conveniently reached by a short drive.
Aurangabad provides quality accommodation facilities for luxury and budget
travellers. Some of the best hotels in Aurangabad are Hotel Rama
International (five star, 5 Km from airport & 8 Km from railway
station), Hotel Taj Residency (five star, 9 Km from airport & 7 Km from
railway station), Hotel Aurangabad Ashok (three star, 10 Km from airport &
3 Km from railway station) and Hotel President Park (three star, 4 Km from
airport & 8 Km from railway station).
Getting There
By Air : Aurangabad is the nearest and most convenient
airport to reach the caves. The city is well connected be daily Indian
Airlines and Jet Airways flights from Delhi and Mumbai. For more information
on flight schedule and timings, refer to the official site of Indian
Airlines (http://indian-airlines.nic.in/index.asp).
By Rail : Jalgaon is the nearest railhead from where you
can hire a taxi or board a bus for a short ride to the Ajanta caves. Nearly
all the trains on the route including super fast, express, mail and
passenger trains halt at Jalgaon. To check the availability of seats and for
online booking of tickets, visit the official site of Indian railways at
http://www.indianrail.gov.in/
By Road : A good network of roads connect the caves with
all the major neighbouring cities including Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar,
Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore or Bijapur. The
best option, however, is to travel to Aurangabad from where the caves are
located at an easily approachable distance.
Distance from Major Cities
- Ahmedabad : 586 Km
- Dhule : 143 Km
- Indore : 402 Km
- Mumbai : 403 Km
- Nagpur : 504 Km
- Nasik : 218 Km
- Surat : 363 Km
- Pune : 214 Km
