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Caves
- Ajanta | Ellora | Elephanta
Ajanta
The thirty rock-hewn caves at ajanta which are cut into the scrap of a cliff are Chaityas (Chapels) & Viharas (Monastries). Most of these are carved so that a flood of natural light pours into them at any given time of the day. Both the facade & the inside of the chambers faithfully reproduce the structural patterns known to those ancient builders. On the walls are paintings, many still glowing with their original colours. The outer walls are covered with brilliantly executed sculpture. The caves are not numbered in chronological order. Cave nos. 9,10, 12, 13 are the earliest belonging to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Cave no 1 to 8, 11 and 14 to 30 are of Mahayana sect among these Mahayana Caves nos. 19, 26 & 30 are the Chaityas and rest of them are Viharas. The most notable of all these caves are 1,2,9,10,16,17,19 and 26, here ancient Indian art attained the zenith of its development and revealed a dynamic rhythm of life.
How to get there
Air: The nearest airport Aurangabad is 106 kms from Ajanata.
Rail: The nearest railhead Jalgaon is 60 kms from Ajanta, however Aurangabad (106 kms) is the most convenient railhead.
Road: Ajanta is connected to all major centres of the region by good roads.
Accommodation: MTDC Hotel at Ajanta-a choice of single (2 blocks) and double (2 blocks) rooms. Fardapur:
self-contained (1 block-14 beds) Fardapur (Kanhaiya Kunj self contained rooms (12blocks) group
Accommodation ( 2 block 18 beds).
Ellora Caves
The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or halls of worship, and Viharas, or monasteries, Hindu and Jai temples.
Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5 th and 11 th century AD, the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29).The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest monolithic structure in the world. Interestingly, Ellora, unlike the site of Ajanta, was never ‘rediscovered’. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the centuries to the present day.
Ellora has been designed as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.
How to get there
Air: Nearest airport Aurangabad is 30 kms from Ellora.
Rail: Nearest railhead Aurangabad is 30 kms from Ellora.
Road: Bus services are available from Aurangabad.
Elephanta Caves
9 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India lay Elephanta, also known as ‘Gharapuri’. Visit this green island for the wonders of the 7 th century, the painstakingly hewn rock-cut cave temple, dedicated to Shiva. The Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer, is a sight that should be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime. Regular excursions to Elephanta start every day from the Gateway of India. Make sure you visit the Chalukya Restaurant run by
MTDC.
The Caves will be closed on Monday.
How to get
there
Air: Nearest airport is Mumbai 20 kms. upto Gateway of India, and 9 nautical miles across the sea.
Rail: Nearest railhead are Churchgate (W.R.) & Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST, C.R.)
Accommodation: Self-contained rooms (2 blocks). Restaurant with bar facility.
Reference:
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/
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