The Ajanta caves Of Maharashtra is one of historic and ancient
place of India. Ajanta caves located in 108 kms north-east of Aurangabad .The
caves are carved in the rock face which is in the face which is in the form of
a horse-shoe through which flows the stream Waghora. Situated in this beautiful
surroundings are 30 Buddhist caves some unfinished comprising of either viharas
(monastic halls) or chaityas(chapels)containing important examples of Buddhist
architecture. Despite its age, most of the frescoes and sculptures are
remarkably well preserved .Natural light illuminates the caves at certain times
of the day which leave you awestruck by the sheer brilliance of its
architectural splendour. The Ajanta caves are placed in the World Heritage List
of Monuments & a true "Wonder of the World”. The Ellora caves are 29
kms Noth-West of Aurangabad. These rock-cut caves were constructed between
sixth to the tenth century A.D & are included in the World Heritage. There
are about 34 caves-12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, 5 of Jain faith.
History Of Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves is a excellent example of cave temple architecture, the world
heritage Ellora caves own elaborate facades and intricately carved interiors.
These carved structures on the inner walls of the caves reflect the three
faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These exotic caves were carved during
350 AD to 700 AD period.
The Chalukya - Rashtrakuta rulers (7th - 10th cnetury) were
the main patrons of the cave temples of Ellora. Many kings and Merchants
donated huge sums of money for the construction of these cave temples. Some
religious beliefs and ethical codes forced the rulers to encourage the buliding
of these temples. Building of these temples was supposed to give salvation and
religious excellance to the kings.
The enchanting cave shrines of Ellora are an added value to
the great Indian Heritage.
Ajanta Caves
The incredible caves of Ajanta are dedicated exclusively to
Buddhism. There are around 30 caves here and are divided into 'Chaitya-Grihas'
(stupa halls) and 'Viharas' (dwelling halls). Around five of these caves (9,
10, 19, 26 and 29) are 'Chaitya-Grihas'. The rest of the caves are
'Sangharamas' or Viharas (monasteries). The caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 are important
from the art point of view. They are great pieces of art compared to the
contemporary art world.
These caves have exotic paintings illustrating the life and
incarnations of Buddha. The carvings and the paintings of the Ajanta caves tell
us about the imagination and creativity of the artist. The murals on the walls
of these caves are still in a good condition, maintaining the freshness of the
color and spreading vibrancy in the atmosphere. Visitors will definitely enjoy
watching these great historical pieces of art.
How to Reach Ajanta Caves
By Air: The nearest airport from these caves is situated in
Aurangabad (15 kms). It is a domestic airport.
By Rail: Aurangabad
is the nearest railway station on South Central Railway Line. Mumbai -
Aurangabad via Manmad is 388-km and via Pune it is 400-km.
By Road: Aurangabad is a major city of Maharashtra;
therefore it is well connected by road. To reach Ellora Caves tourists should
take a taxi from Aurangabad. State buses run from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad,
Indore and Bijapur to Aurangabad.
0 comments: