Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Ajanta and Ellora Caves, UNESCO world heritage sites in India
Ajanta and Ellora caves a re a part of Indian culture and tradition during the earlier age. These rock cut temples and caves were carved by hand, mostly using hammer and chisel.

Location of Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Ajanta and Ellora Caves are located in the Aurangabad district of the state of Maharashtra. Both of them are UNESCO World Heritages sites. Ajanta and Ellora Caves are placed at about 100 kilometers from each other. The sites are protected monuments in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India. Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About Ajanta Caves
Ajanta caves are carved into the side of a cliff which is placed on the south side of a U-shaped gorge on the small river Waghora / Wagura. Since the area was heavily forested the caves were covered and went out of sight, till it was accidentally uncovered and found by a British Officer while he was on a hunting party.

There are caves numbered from 1 to 28 but some of them were unfinished even then. These figures and impressions on the caves seem to have been carved out with simple tools like hammer and chisel. They depict the story of Buddhism over a period of 200 BC to 650 AD. These caves were used a secluded retreats for the Buddhist monks who were teaching and performing rituals. These were the ancient seats of learning as well as the nerve centers of the Buddhist cultural movement.

Buddhist caves in Ellora
Even though the Buddhist caves are numbered from 1-5 and then 6-12 , it is clear that Hindu caves have been the earlier ones. The first of the Buddhist cave is the Cave 6 followed by othrs one by one, all the caves having been constructed between 630 - 700. One of the most famous caves in the Buddhist group of caves is the cave 10, which is known as Vishwakarma or the carpenter's cave. In the heart of this cave there is a 15-foot statue of Buddha seated in a preaching pose and the first nine are monasteries and the last two have 2 and 3 storeys.

Hindu caves of Ellora
These Hindu caves seem to have been built in the 6th to the end of 8th century. The first of the hindu caves 17 - 29 are of the Kalachuri period but the work first seems to have commenced in caves 29 and 21 14, 15, 16 were constructed during the Rashtrakuta period.

Cave 16 was known as the Kailasanatha is the unrivalled piece of th Ellora. This has been carved out of a single rock but looks as if it is a multi storeyed and free standing temple complex. the temple is a splendid example of the Dravidian art. The project was started by Krishna 1 of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty and the builders modeled it on the lines of the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal.

The Dashavatara Cave was started off as a Buddhist monastery with an open court and a free-standing monolithic mandapa at the middle as well as a two-storeyed temple at the rear. The other notable Hindu caves are Rameshwara the cave 21, Dhumarlena or Cave 29, Raava ki Khai or cave 14 and Nilkhanta or Cave 22.

Jain Caves of the Ellora
The first of th Jain cave was built in the 9th and 10th centuries and they belong to the Digambara sect. Jain caves reflect a strict sense of Asceticism and they are not large like others but they have exceptionally detailed works of art. Chhota Kailash or Cave 30, the Indra Sabha or cave 32 and Jagannath Sabha (cave 33 or Cave 33 are the most remarkable ones.

Entrance fees and Timings at Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Cave Timings:
9.00AM to 17.30PM Indian Standard Time (IST)
Ajanta Caves remains closed on Monday and Ellora Caves remains closed on Tuesday.
Both the caves remain open on all the National Holidays

Cave Entrance Charges:
For Indians below 15 years : FREE of Charge
For Indians above 15 years : Rs. 10/- per head
For Foreigners above 15 years : US $5 or equivalent in Indian rupees per head
For Photo Camera/ Video Camera: Rs. 5/- (Camera to be used without flash)

How to reach Ajanta Caves ?
Ajanta Caves are located near Jalgaon just out isde the Ajinta Village at about 59 kilometers away from the Jalgaon Railway station. Jalgaon is located on the Delhi Mumbai line aand the Howrah Nagpur Mumbai line of the Central Railway. Ajanta Caves are located at about 104 kilometers from the city of Aurangabad.
If you are travelling from Aurangabad, you can visit Ellora caves and then drive on to Ajanta Caves.
Ajanta Caves are closer to Jalgaon just outside the Ajinta Village at about 59 kilometers away from the Jalgaon Railway station. Jalgaon is located on the Delhi Mumbai line and the Howrah Nagpur Mumbai line of the Central Railway.

Accommodation Facilities at Ajanta and Ellora Caves
MTDC Hotel at Ajanta-a choice of single (2 blocks) and double (2 blocks) rooms. Fardapur : self contained (1 block-14 beds) 
Fardapur (Kanhaiya Kunj) : self contained rooms (12 blocks) group. Accommodation ( 2 block 18 beds).