The famous Ajanta and Ellora caves are located near the
city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The cave shrines were all cut out of
rock, by hand, and rank amongst some of the most outstanding specimens of
ancient Indian architectural heritage. The 34 caves at Ellora and the 29
caves at Ajanta, were remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium,
till John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally stumbled upon them
while on a hunting expedition in 1819. The view point from where John Smith
first glimpsed the caves, provides a magnificent sight of the U-Shaped gorge
and its scenic surroundings.
Ajanta
has been designated as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic
legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to
come.
Ajanta Caves
It was only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of caves, lying deep
within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side, above the
Waghora river, were discovered. They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning
a 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 - centers 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. Exquisite wall - paintings
and sculptures speak volumes of the India of yore. Many of the caves house
panels depicting stories from the Jatakas, a rich mine of tales of the
several incarnations of the Buddha. Images of nymphs and princesses amongst
others, are also elaborately portrayed.
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.
The sculpture in the Buddhist caves accurately convey the nobility, grace
and serenity inherent in the Buddha. Caves 6 and 10 house images from the
Buddhist and Hindu faith, 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 placed in the stupa. Its
two - storied structure sports a colourful pageant of dwarfs, dancing and
making music.
The
Kailasa temple in Cave 16 is an architectural wonder, the entire structure
having been carved out of a monolith, the process taking over a century to
finish. This mountain - abode of Lord Shiva, is in all probability, the
world's largest monolith, the gateway, pavilion, assembly hall, sanctum and
tower, all hewn out of a single rock. What is amazing about it, is the fact
that unlike other temple structures which are built base onwards, the
sculptor or architect involved here, started carving from the very 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 resembles the famous
cave - temple at Elephanta, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The Jain caves are about a mile away from the Kailasa temple, amongst which
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 Jain caves sport the
images of Tirthankaras, and one of them, also, has a seated figure of
Mahavira.
These cave shrines are memorable for their invaluable contribution to the
enormous wealth of Indian heritage.
Other Places of Interest around Ajanta and Ellora
Bibi-Ka-Maqbara
Eight Kilometers from the town this mausoleum was built in 1679 AD by the
last of the Great Mughals, Emperor Aurangazeb in the memory of his wife
Rabia-ud-Durrani. It was modelled after the Taj Mahal in Delhi.
Aurangabad Caves
Nine kilometers from Aurangabad near Bibi-Ka-Maqbara are the cave temples
if Aurangabad cut between the 6th and 8th century AD. The cave temples of
Aurangabad make a worthy prelude to the far more celebrated Ellora and
Ajanta.
Panchakki (WaterMill)
The Panchakki or the watermill dates back to the Mughal times. Deriving its
name from a mill worked by water power for grinding corn for the poor and
the military garrison. It was built in 1624 AD to commemorate a Muslim saint
Baba Shah Muzaffar.
