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Special Interest Holidays - Ajanta Ellora Cave Tours, Cave Tours Ajanta Ellora, Caves Ajanta Ellora India, Cave Tour and Travel Package, Cave Tour Reservation Ajanta Ellora India, Special Interest Holidays, Special Interest Holiday, Best Value Holidays India, India Holidays Travel |
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India Tours » Travel to Ajanta Ellora Cave
For Any Inquiry Please Mail Us at: spectrumtour@gmail.com
The ancient Ajanta Ellora caves, carved out of solid rocks by human hands, are situated near Aurangabad 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 for thousands of years 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 the tourists.
Ellora Caves
Ellora cave 10The 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.
Attractions Around
Grishneshwar
GrishneshwarThe Shiva Temple is one of the twelve holy jyotirlingas 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 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 kms.) 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 kms.) 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 major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Bhopal.
By Road - The caves can be accessed via Aurangabad which is well connected to all neighbouring cities by state run buses.
Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves which depict the history of Buddhism for thousands of years 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 the tourists.
Ellora Caves
Ellora cave 10The 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.
Attractions Around
Grishneshwar
GrishneshwarThe Shiva Temple is one of the twelve holy jyotirlingas 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 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 kms.) 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 kms.) 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 major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Bhopal.
By Road - The caves can be accessed via Aurangabad which is well connected to all neighbouring cities by state run buses.
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