THE GLORIOUS AJANTA-ELLORA CAVES: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISIT

THE GLORIOUS AJANTA-ELLORA CAVES: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISIT

ABOUT AJANTA-ELLORA CAVES

Astonishing hill side caves located on rocks is Ajanta and Ellora caves. Both are marked as UNESCO world heritage site. Ajanta the first Buddhist caves monument situated in Aurangabad district. The caves are fully distinguish between ancient Indian part by its attractive painting and rock cut sculpture, particularly expressive painting that describe the emotions, view and form. Most interesting point about Ajanta and Ellora is, Ajanta has all caves comprises of Buddhist monument whereas Ellora consist of mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples.

HOW TO REACH HERE AJANTA-ELLORA CAVES

By Air

Nearest airport is Aurangabad which is domestic and Ajanta is only 15 km from airport. Being one of the most important city air service is well connected from Major cities and state. International travellers can get connecting flight from Mumbai.

By Train and Bus

Aurangabad railway station is well connected from other various cities of Maharashtra. Once you get down at Aurangabad station take direct bus going towards Jalgaon/ Bhusawal/ Yawal that will drop at the entrance of Ajanta caves. Bus fare is nominal in range from 80 INR to 100 INR.

By Road

Ajanta is at a distance of 100 km from Aurangabad. Highway linking Aurangabad to Mumbai is well connected to major cities of India like Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Jaipur.

After reaching the main entrance of Ajanta caves, there is private bus service till the main caves which are 4 km from entrance. (Private vehicles need to park at main entrance only).

Local transport are available to reach Ellora caves from Ajanta and the distance is 102 km.

Aurangabad is known as historical city of Maharashtra. It is 5th largest city in Maharashtra state and named Aurangabad after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Ajanta and Ellora from Aurangabad was in my bucket since, first time I heard of this place and it became my must visit destination from this city. It was my internship time that took me to this historical place. Ajanta is one of such place where tourist crowd is not only from India but also from other countries as well. 

HISTORY OF AJANTA-ELLORA

Ajanta Caves are 30rock-cut caves which is dated from second century BCE to about480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. These caves includes painting and rock-cut sculpture describes final surviving example of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive painting that present the emotions through gesture, pose and art.

According to UNISCO, these are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The site is protected monument in the care of Archaeological survey of India and since 1983 Ajanta Caves have become

UNISCO World Heritage Site.

  

When I stepped into Ajanta we came across 30budhist caves with their sculpture and each caves has number which is really an interesting point about it.

Ajanta Caves represents ancient Monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist tradition carved into 250feet wall of rock. The caves also presents painting that portrays past lives and rebirths of Buddha.

Textual record suggests that the caves served as monsoon retreat for monks as well as resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India. Vivid colours and mural wall painting were infinite in Indian history as mentioned by historical record.

Caves 1, 2, 16 &17 forms largest corpus of ancient India.

Ajanta Caves are mentioned in historical account of Buddhist traveller to India in early seventeen centuries. Earlier It was covered by dense forest due to which no one had had ever imagined that, there will be such a beautiful caves. It was accidentally discovered and brought in attention in 1819 by colonial British officer Captain John Smith on tiger hunting party.

AJANTA VIEW POINT

Out of these 30caves five (caves no.9, 10, 16, 19 & 29) caves are chaityagrahas and rest are viharas. From these caves 6 caves belongs to earlier phase and rest belongs to this phase. First phase are named as satavahana period whereas second phase is known as vakatak period. Caves 10 object is mainly known for Stupa. Here is one cave in Ajanta where you can see sleeping statue of Buddha, It is known for mystery cave and mystery is that “when we measure length of Buddha statue from head to feet and when we measure it from feet to head it shows different number”.

WATERFALL VIEW AT AJANTA

IMPORTANT CAVES TO VISIT AT AJANTA

Best work finds in caves 1, 2, 16, 17 & 19.

Best sculpture finds in 1, 4, 17, 19, 24 & 26.

The important attraction that, most of the tourist misses when visiting Ajanta caves are, Saptakunda or Waghora waterfall which is on either side of cliff and view point of Ajanta caves from where single view panoramic clicks are possible. If you are real adventurous photographer and want to click beautiful panoramic views then you must visit to Ajanta view point which is 13 km from parking area of caves.

ELLORA CAVES

KAILASH TEMPLE

Ellora also called Verul and its short form of ancient name Elapura.

As like Ajanta caves Ellora is also known as World Heritage Site situated in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra.It is one of the largest rock cut-monastery-temple caves in the world. Ellora comprises of 12 Buddhist caves(caves1-12),17 Hindu(caves13-29) and 5Jain(caves30-34).

Caves served as monasteries, temples and rest stop for pilgrims.

This large structure was built on hill Elapura by Krishna raja. The most remarkable cave is Kailasa (cave 16) named for the mountain in Kailash range of the Himalaya where Hindu god Shiva resides. 

One of its better known decoration is scene of Vishnu transformed into man lion and battling demon.

ELLORA VIEW

Ajanta caves along with Ellora caves has become most popular tourist destination of Maharashtra and are often crowded in holiday times therefore to decrease the crowd, In 2012 Maharashtra tourist development corporation announced the plan to add ASI visitor centre at the entrance complete replica of caves 1, 2, 16 & 17 to reduce crowding in original.

They are Imitating all original caves so people can get idea, how it would be looked in past? because original caves has been damaged by human so you will get complete idea from this duplicate caves.

Today, the Ellora caves along with Ajanta caves are a major tourist attractions in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. 

IDEAL TIME TO VISIT AJANTA-ELLORA CAVES

June to March is ideal month to visit Ajanta and Ellora. In summer it becomes little difficult to visit here as sun heats up the rock.

In winter and monsoon climate becomes pleasant with the view of waterfall at Ajanta. 

PLACES TO EXPLORE AROUND AJANTA-ELLORA

• Ajanta view point
• Ellora caves- 30 km from city.
• Grishneshwar temple- 2 km from Aurangabad city.
• Bibi Ka Makbara- 19 km from city. 

STAY OPTION NEAR AJANTA CAVES

Being one of the popular destination there are large number of hotels available to stay near to Ajanta caves.

The stay here is budget friendly that ranging from Deluxe to Normal room.

One of the suggestion is Hotel view point 13 km from caves.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE VISITING AJANTA-ELLORA

• Carry Torch to see inside paintings in caves, as there will dark inside the caves.
• You can buy book to collect information about caves, if you don’t want to hire a guide.
• Ajanta caves are closed on all Monday.
• Entrance fees is 20 INR for Indian and 250 INR for foreigners where camera charges are 25 per camera for photo-shoot/videos.
• Ajanta caves along with Ellora caves in one day is not possible, Ajanta itself will take 5-6 hours and distance between Ajanta and Ellora is 100km.
• Explore Ellora with other sightseeing’s places like Daulatabad Fort, Grishneshwar temple, Mhaismal hill station, Bhadra Maruti temple and Bibi Ka Makbara which are on route and easily accessible by autos.