Ajanta Ellora Caves

Fact Files : Ajanta Ellora Caves

Location : Near Aurangabad City, Maharashtra, India.
Faiths : Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
Attraction : Indian rock-cut architecture, Cave Shrines Cut of Rocks.
Highlights : Ellora Festival of Classical Dance & Music.
Time to Visit : Anytime of the Year

Suggested Itinerary :

Ajanta Ellora Caves Tours

Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Ajanta and Ellora caves are ranked amongst the most outstanding specimens of ancient architecture. The Ajanta and Ellora caves were discovered by John Smith, a British Army Officer, during a hunting expedition in 1819. The caves, set in the Sahyadri hills over the Waghora River, are an oeuvre of handwork and illustrate the chronicles of Buddhism spanning the period between 300 BC and 650 AD. These caves form an inevitable part of cultural tours of India.

Ajanta, with its 29 caves, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves of Ajanta feature beautiful paintings, frescoes, murals and recherché sculptures. Built using elementary tools, these caves have some of the well-preserved wall paintings including Boddhisattvas, Padmapani and Avalokiteshvara. The caves also accommodate some of the elysian sculptures and simulacrums of Buddha’s discourse.

The 34 caves of Ellora are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill, 30 km from Aurangabad. The frontispieces and the elegantly fashioned interiors of the caves exemplify a beautiful fusion of art, culture and architecture. These magnificent structures depict the beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The 17 caves in the centre are dedicated to Hinduism, 12 caves to the south are Buddhist shrines and the 5 caves to the north are dedicated to Jainism. The Kailasha temple in Cave 16 is an architectural marvel carved out of a monolith. It has the gateway, assembly hall, pavilion, sanctum and tower, all chiseled out of a single rock.

How to Reach Ajanta & Ellora Caves:

Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves are about 100 km and 30 km from Aurangabad respectively.

By Air:
Aurangabad has an airport with regular flights to cities like Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur and Mumbai.

By Rail:
Aurangabad Railway is well connected by rail directly with major cities like Mumbai and Pune. Jalgaon Railway Station is on the central railway line – 59 km away from Ajanta.

By Road:
Aurangabad has regular bus services to major cities like Pune, Mumbai, Jalgaon, Ahmedabad, Indore, etc. Transport facilities from Aurangabad to Ellora and from Jalgaon to Ajanta are also available.

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