Week 14 – Ajanta and Ellora caves

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Getting to the world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves involved a number of bus and train journeys but Tracy and I were mildly surprised at how well it all came together. Great planing by me!

Ajanta caves were carved from a horse-shoe shaped gorge around 200 BC to 650 AD and are covered in beautiful paintings depicted tales of gods and kings. Whist the area was busy everytime we entered a cave a large tour group left and we were able enjoy the atmospheric lighting in peace.

The next day we went to Ellora caves which did not have the wall paints associated with Ajanta but were much more sculpturally impressive. Huge multi-storied temples had been dug out of the solid rock cliff-face, all covered in intricately carved tableaus.

Both sites were truly impressive. How such complex and detailed work could have been created so long ago was mind-boggling.

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