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Ajanta & Ellora Tour

Nestled in the hills near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra are two magical locations displaying the artistry of the yore, cut out of rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. These caves are none other than the famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora. This city is all geared for tourists who flock in from all over the world to see these exceptional beauty. The brilliance of their imagery and the fact that they were carved between the 2nd century BC and the 8th century AD is highly inspiring.
At Ajanta, more than 2,000 years ago artists literally carved monasteries and temples out of solid rock. There are sculptures and fabulously preserved frescoes that monumentalize a 2,000-year-old civilisation by displaying its daily life as well as the epic stories of its religion. Around the 7th century AD, Ajanta was abandoned by its creators for some unknown reason, and they moved to Ellora (30 km from Aurangabad). At about this time Buddhism was fading in India. The cave temples that were found in the hills of Ellora over the next six centuries exhibits Buddhist as well as Hindu and Jain mythology.

 

Tourist Attractions in Ajanta Ellora Caves

» Ajanta Caves
Lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river, are the awesome Ajanta group of caves, captivating tourists from all over. It was only in the 19th century, when a group of British officers on a tiger hunt discovered this artistry of yore. The caves at Ajanta depict the story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD.

The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve - centres of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures.

» Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave - temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period.

The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. All of Ellora's cave-temples are awesome in size and detail; the most breathtaking of them is the Kailasa Temple, the world's largest monolithic structure, sculptured as intricately as if it were an ivory miniature.