The ajanta caves are located in the northern part of the state of maharashtra, india. Cave architecture ajanta caves ellora bagh caves mitras ias. Inspired by buddhist architecture the ajanta ellora caves is a finest example budhist civilization. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. The ajanta caves are closed on mondays, and the ellora caves are closed on tuesdays. The ajanta caves are situated at a distance of 15 km from ajanta village and 101 km in the northern direction of the aurangabad district headquarter maharashtra on state highway no. They are located near the village of ellora, 19 miles 30 km northwest of aurangabad and 50 miles 80 km southwest of the ajanta caves. You can hire a local taxi or travel by the staterun buses to reach the ajanta ellora caves. Ajanta and ellora caves was built up by the labourers in supervision of architecture. It encompasses both theravada hinayana and mahayana buddhist traditions. The rockcut caves of ellora have a long history that goes back to the 6th century.
Ajanta caves and ellora caves private with rockcut temples. Subsequently, through operation polo, a police action on september 17, 1948, the indian. Peculiar location of ajanta caves the ajanta caves are located about 8 to 10 km of faradapur town about 110 km of aurangabad district of maharashtra. May 23, 2016 both the ajanta caves and the ellora caves are worth seeing. Chalukya and rashtrakuta kings ruled over the deccan from the middle of the 6th century ad to almost the end of the 12th century. Ajanta caves documents unesco world heritage centre. Ajanta caves is conveniently approached by a road from both aurangabad and jalgaon. Ajanta ellora tour by indian holiday is a 4 nights 5 days tour package which takes you to heritage sites of maharashtra. Ellora has 34 caves built later that are buddhist, hindu, and jain.
Ellora is also world famous for the largest single monolithic excavation in the world, the huge kailasa temple present in the cave 16. It is about 100 km away from ajanta and 30 km away from ellora. There are many paintings, idols, and other structures that were built in 2nd century bce and the construction was done till 480ce or 650ce. The place is situated in the district of aurangabad, which is around 400 km.
Ajanta caves were abandoned in ad 650 in favour of ellora caves. Ajanta caves a world heritage monument the group of caves is prescribed by the unesco as a world heritage monument in 1983. Ajanta and ellora caves are one of the most bewildering archaeological places in india. The caves of ajanta, ellora and elephanta approach guides. Caves to 29 are brahmanical and caves 30 to 34 are jaina. Aurangabad, and the ajanta and ellora caves, mumbai guide. Pdf conservation and restoration research on 2nd bce murals. Ancient history encyclopedia foundation is a nonprofit organization. Ellora is situated thirty kilometers from aurangabad. These rocks were accumulated due to the volcanic eruptions occurred long back.
Ajanta caves are the rockcut caves which mainly belong to the followers of buddha. The cave temples at ajanta located 100 kilometers northeast of aurangabad and 455 kilometers northeast of mumbai occupy a 0. This book describes the buddhist caves at ellora and places them in the context of buddhist art and iconography. The ellora caves and the ajanta caves are near aurangabad in maharashtra. Ajanta ellora tours, ajanta ellora tours in aurangabad,ajanta ellora educare tours and travels,ellora kailash temple caves no 16,padmapani painting in ajanta,how to reach aurangabd. Oct 22, 2016 our journey around aurangabad visiting. Your contribution will go a long way in helping us serve. Ellora is one of the great cave temple sites of india, with thirtyfour major buddhist, hindu, and jain monuments of the late sixth to tenth centuries a. Dating from 200 bc, these caves were excavated in two distinct phases and reportedly took more than 800 years to complete. The highway that connects aurangabad to mumbai is also wellconnected to various parts of the country such as delhi, indore, bijapur, udaipur and jaipur. The place is situated in the district of aurangabad, which is around 400 km from mumbai. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. The ellora caves are not only a unique artistic creation but also with its sanctuaries devoted to buddhism, hinduism and jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient india.
Ellora caves documents unesco world heritage centre. Ajanta caves, aurangabad, maharashtra facts, history. Ajanta caves are a series of 30 buddhist caves located in aurangabad district, maharashtra. The ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of buddhist art in india. The best carving in ellora kailash temple caves no 16 ellora caves. Ellora caves, a series of 34 magnificent rockcut temples in northwestcentral maharashtra state, western india. The climate during this period is pleasant and the best for exploring the caves. However, 2 days are needed to visit both the caves. The ajanta caves were gradually forgotten until their rediscovery by a british officer in 1819.
Concealed away in the hills of northwest india, around 200 miles way from the busy roads of mumbai, a superlative gemstone of art and religion is sited. Lol the ajanta caves are generally agreed to have been made in three distinct periods, the first belonging to the 2nd century bce to 1st century ce, and second p. Ajanta and ellora caves the great heritage of maharashtra. The caves of ajanta, ellora and elephanta india travel guide. Ajanta caves are located outside the village named ajintha.
The aurangabad caves are twelve rockcut buddhist shrines located on a hill running roughly east to west, close to the city of aurangabad, maharashtra. The caves of ajanta 4th best place to visit in india according to lonely planet the caves of ellora bibi ka maqbara mini taj mahal our trips were. May 15, 2016 the ellora caves and the ajanta caves are near aurangabad in maharashtra. The ellora caves are in the indian state of maharashtra about 29 kilometres 18 miles northwest of the city of aurangabad, 300 kilometres 190 miles eastnortheast of mumbai, 235 kilometres 146 miles from pune and about 100 kilometres 62 miles west of the ajanta caves, 2. Inspired by buddhist architecture the ajantaellora caves is a finest example budhist civilization. Ellora caves is a world heritage site, located at a distance of 30 km from the city aurangabad. History caves of first satavahana period caves of later vakakata period 4. Both the ajanta caves and the ellora caves are worth seeing. Ajanta ellora caves travel guide accommodation, how to. Ellora caves face the west so visit them in the second half of the day. Out of these, there are 12 mahayana buddhist caves caves 112, 17 hindu caves caves 29 and 5 caves of the jain faith caves 3034. While ajanta and ellora caves can be visited all around the year but the best time to visit here is from october to march. In the strategies, aurangabad district, where the ajanta caves and ellora caves are. What is the history of the ajanta and ellora caves.
This world heritage site is located about 105 km from aurangabad city. The ajanta style is also found in the ellora caves and other sites such as the elephanta caves, aurangabad caves, shivleni caves and the cave temples of karnataka. Ajanta caves, buddhist rockcut cave temples and monasteries, located near ajanta village, northcentral maharashtra state, western india, that are celebrated for their wall paintings. The ajanta and ellora caves are counted among the best examples representing the arts.
The ajanta caves shaped into the face of a mountain, appear as a horseshoe around the wangorah river. They are particularly well known though for the wall and ceiling paintings that decorate their interiors, some of which are remarkably well preserved for their age. The aurangabad caves were dug out of comparatively soft basalt rock during the 6th and 7th century. State at that time chose not to merge hyderabad state into either country. The ajanta cave complex forms the largest surviving collection of indian wall paintings and sculptures from indias history.
Ajanta caves closed in mondayare famous for paintings and ellora closed in tuesday is for its architecture, particularly cave no. Ajanta and ellora aug 2016 india lonely planet forum. The first reference to the aurangabad caves is in the great chaitya of kanheri caves. Ajanta caves 1 ajanta caves, aurangabad ajanta caves are the rockcut caves which mainly belong to the followers of buddha. Ajanta ellora tours, ajanta ellora tours in aurangabad, ajanta ellora educare tours and travels, ellora kailash temple caves no 16,padmapani painting in ajanta,how to reach aurangabd.
Ajanta is 100 kilometres 62 miles from the ellora caves, which contain hindu, jain and buddhist caves, the last dating from a period similar to ajanta. Ajanta is a complex of 29 separate caves cut into the cliffs of a curving river gorge. Aug 15, 2017 out of these, there are 12 mahayana buddhist caves caves 112, 17 hindu caves caves 29 and 5 caves of the jain faith caves 3034. Chalukya and rashtrakuta kings ruled over the deccan from the middle of the 6th century ad to almost the end of the 12th. Location country indiastate maharashtradistrict aurangabad caves 30 3. Ajanta and ellora caves are located about 100 km from each other. Ajanta caves information ajanta is worlds greatest historical monument recognised by unesco located just 40kms from jalgaon city of maharashtra, india. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 70foot 20metre ravine in the wagurna. There are tales depicted in pictures which are related to the rebirth of the buddha. Aurangabad is only 100 km from ajanta and 30 km from ellora.
Ellora caves are around 30 km and ajanta caves around 100 km. It is located about 400km from mumbai and 104km from aurangabad. The closest government guest house near ellora caves is in khuladabad on the way to ellora from aurangabad at the distance of 24 km which can be booked in advance by contacting executive engineer, public works department, aurangbad. Our guide to aurangabad, and the ajanta and ellora caves gives you expert recommendations on the best attractions, restaurants, hotels, and more. They showcase intricate carvings that are truly magnificent. The destinations covered in this tour package include dream city mumbai, heritage city aurangabad and religious city nasik. Cave one has scenes carved from the life of buddha. But to give you a brief overview, here are some of the similarities and. The ajanta caves have very similar structural and sculptural elements to the buddhist caves at ellora. It is the best time to visit ajanta and ellora caves. If we rent a car and driver, can we see both caves in one day, or are they worth splitting out to two days. Figure 10 showing beforeafter conservation photographs cave no 10, ajanta. Ajanta and ellora which is better india travel forum.
They comprise chaityas shrines dedicated to lord buddha, and viharas monasteries used by buddhist monks for meditation. The ellora caves, locally known as verul leni is located on the aurangabadchalisgaon road at a distance of 30 km northnorthwest of aurangabad, the district headquarters. In all 34 caves were excavated here out of which caves 1 to 12 are buddhist. Ajanta and ellora caves present in the aurangabad district of maharashatra. Walking up and seeing the first dramatic views of the area was an incredible experience, which only got better as we explored inside the various caves. This site is declared a world heritage site by unesco. Rockcut aesthetics of kailasa is that prismatic spectrum of indian fme arts that collected the rainbows of ajanta and refracted them to the. This guide selects the best 9 from ajanta and the best 8 from ellora for wonderfully clear, succinct commentary with highlighted diagrams, closeup photographs, and authors tips to get the most from your visit. The ellora caves are open from sunrise until sunset around 5. Ajanta caves 2020 all you need to know before you go with. Ajanta caves are the set of 29 buddhist cave temples.
Ajanta caves are situated in aurangabad city in maharashtra state of india. Ajanta caves 8 ajanta caves were built from the basalt accumulated in the form of igneous rocks. The excavated caves at ellora represent buddhist, brahmanical and jaina faith. However, try to avoid visiting them then as well as on weekends as the crowds can be overwhelming and you wont have a peaceful experience. Sculpture and architecture, ratan parimoo, deepak kannal. How to reach ajanta and ellora caves, flights, buses and taxi. Covering ajanta and ellora caves in one day is very very difficult considering the distance and walking to do. The workers carved pillars, roofs, and idols out of the rocks. Jalgaon is the closest airport to ajanta caves located 50 km away with connecting flights from mumbai and ahmedabad.
The caves were built during the time period between the 6th and the 10th centuries. The caves are unique in that they combine three forms of artarchitecture. Cave two is famous for its paintings on pillars, walls and ceilings. The caves have been carved on the vertical and conclave slopes of the basalt plateau of deccan trap which is one of the great volcanic formations, known in indian geology. Dont go to the corners of the caves as there are lots of bats. They are hewn out of the basaltic rock of the deccan trap, and are datable from circa 6th century a. But to give you a brief overview, here are some of the similarities and differences between them. The ajanta caves are just one in a series of mountain caves spread across western india, the others being ellora, bhaja and karla. Ajanta ellora caves 2020 india images, paintings, tours. The caves were built during the time period between the 6th and the. Kailasanatha temple is a hindu temple located in cave 16 of ellora caves. Ajanta ellora tour package 4 nights 5 days ajanta ellora trip. These are comprised of thirty one rock cut monuments. Monuments such as ajanta, ellora and elephanta caves, gateway of india and architectural structures like viharas and chaityas have attracted people from all over the world.