Places to Visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves

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Ajanta and Ellora Caves - World Heritage Ancient Rock-Cut Caves

The Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, India, are close to Aurangabad and are regarded as two of the best examples of prehistoric rock-cut caves. Beautiful sculptures, paintings, and frescoes adorn the Ajanta and Ellora cave complex, which also has Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, and Jain temples. The 29 Ajanta caves were constructed between the second and sixth centuries AD, whereas the 34 Ellora caves are more dispersed and date from the sixth to the eleventh century AD.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are well-known among tourists from all over the world and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located about 99 kilometres north of Aurangabad, the Ajanta Caves are mostly Buddhist structures that were utilised as retreats by Buddhist monks. Situated about 15 kilometres to the west of Aurangabad, Ellora boasts a more diverse array of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist structures. The Indian emperors of earlier eras funded the construction of these hand-carved caves, which were nearly completely covered by dense trees. The Kailash Temple is the most famous location in the entire Ajanta and Ellora Caves. It is also the largest monolithic edifice in the world. Some of the outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architecture and sculpture may be seen in these rock-cut caves that feature engravings.

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Ajanta and Ellora Caves History

The Ajanta Caves' sculptures and paintings are from the early era of traditional Indian art. The allure of the caves transports us to the second and sixth centuries AD. 29 Buddhist cave monuments carved out of rock make up the Ajanta caves. Through a variety of paintings and sculptures, the caverns depict Buddhist stories and culture. They are also connected to the well-known Jataka Tales. The caverns' fundamental structure and arrangement are referred to as Chaityagrihas and Viharas.

In addition to its 34 caves, Ellora Caves is well-known for the Kailash Temple, the world's biggest single monolithic rock-cut temple. Viharas, or monasteries, make up the majority of the 12 huge caverns. It is made up of numerous shrines dedicated to Buddha and Bodhisattva Saints. The most well-known cave is known as Carpenter's Cave, or Chaitya Hall. This cave is centred by a magnificent 15-foot-tall statue of the Buddha.

It is like taking a trip back in time to visit Ajanta and Ellora. These caves have been around for almost 2,000 years, and even with modern heavy engineering, it is difficult to imagine developing a structure as magnificent as this one.

How To Reach Ajanta and Ellora Caves

The distance between the caves of Ellora and Ajanta is roughly 100 kilometres. The nearest airport to the Ajanta Caves is Jalgaon, which is 50 km away and has flights from Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The city closest to Ellora Caves is Aurangabad. It is roughly 30 km from Ellora and 100 km from Ajanta. The best airport is Aurangabad Airport, which has multiple flights from India's major cities. The two railway junctions that have excellent connections to all of India's cities are Jalgaon and Aurangabad. The major cities in and surrounding Maharashtra are the departure points for a large number of government and private buses.

Best Time To Visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves

The ideal months to visit Ellora and Ajanta Caves are June through March. In the summer months of April through May, it might get a little challenging to navigate and explore the caverns. The best seasons to explore the caverns are during the winter and monsoon, when the weather is favourable from October to March and June to September, respectively. To ensure that the sun doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of your archaeological expedition, steer clear of the summer months. The intense heat in April and May presents some difficulties for the travellers.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves Tour Packages

Jain Caves, Ellora, Aurangabad

Cave 34 is a shrine in an incomplete four-pillared hall. After achieving omniscience, thirthankaras used the Ellora caves to teach at another location known as Samvatsarana.

Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad

The Buddhist Caves, Ellora

Viharas, or monasteries, make up the majority of the 12 Buddhist Caves. Numerous monasteries have shrines in these caverns that are decorated with sculptures and paintings of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and saints.

Grishneshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga) Aurangabad | Pooja Timings, History