|
They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD.
The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats for Buddhist monks who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning and the nerve-centres of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammers and chisels, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures. Exquisite wall-paintings and sculptures speak volumes of the India of yore. Many of the caves have panels depicting stories from the Jatakas, a treasure trove of stories about the several incarnations of the Buddha. Images of nymphs and princesses, among others, are also elaborately portrayed.
Cave number 1 houses some of the best-preserved wall paintings here, which include two impressive Boddhisattvas, Padmapani and Avalokiteshvara. Caves 2, 16, and 17 also contain amazing paintings, while caves 1, 4, 17, 19, 24, and 26 boast of some of the most divine sculptures. The flying apsara painting in Cave 17, and the image of the Buddha preaching, also in cave 17, are two unforgettable works of art in Ajanta. The Ajanta caves and the treasures they house are a landmark in the overall development of Buddhism in India and in general.
The Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves, of which there are a total of 34, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill 30 kilometres from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave-temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and house exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, were carved between 350 AD and 700 AD. The 12 caves towards the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the center are dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain.
The sculptures in these Buddhist caves accurately convey the nobility, grace and serenity that the Buddha possessed. Caves 6 and 10 have images from the Buddhist and Hindu faiths under the same roof, the latter dedicated to Vishwakarma, the patron saint of Indian craftsmen. The Vishvakarma cave is both a Chaitya and a Vihara, with a seated Buddha adorning the stupa. it is a two-storeyed structure sporting a colourful pageant of dwarfs that are dancing and making music.
The Kailasa temple in cave 16 is an architectural wonder the entire structure having been carved out of a single block of rock, the entire process taking well over a century to finish! This recreation at the mountain-abode of Lord Shiva is, in all probability, the world's largest monolith; the gateway, pavilion, assembly hall, sanctum, and tower are all hewn out of a single rock. What is amazing about it is the fact that unlike other temple structures which were usually built from the base upwards, the sculptor or architect involved here started carving from the top and the sides. Gigantic though it is, it remains one of the most delicate and intricate ancient works of art. The Dumar Lena cave here resembles the famous cave-temple at Elephanta, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The Jain caves are not far off from the Kailasa temple, among them cave 32 houses a beautiful shrine adorned with fine carvings of a lotus flower on the roof, and a yakshi on a lion under a mango-tree, while caves 32 and 34 contain grand statues of Parasnath. The other caves here have the images of the Jain Tirthankaras, and one of them also has a seated figure of Mahavira.
Weekend Trips/Excursions
Aurangabad was an important seat of the Mughal Empire during the Mughal rule in India. The town holds a number of Mughal architectural marvels making it an important historical destination in Maharashtra. The town is situated on the banks of the River Kham. The medieval monuments and cultural heritage, the silk and cotton textiles and its proximity to the famous world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora attract a good number of tourists towards it every year. Though the city looks calm and quiet with not much humdrum on the streets, it is an industrialised, competitive city making its own mark on the tourist and industrial map of India.
Events and Festivals
Every year in the third week of March, Ellora Festival of Classical Dance and Music is organized at the caves.
| 
