Blogs from Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, India, Asia

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Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves August 29th 2018

Today was our long awaited trip to the Ajanta caves, a series of Buddhist caves carved into the rock face. Most were made in 6th & 7th centuries AD but the eldest is thought to be from 200 BC. They are of interest as the paintings are some of the earliest examples in India. The drive took over 2.5hrs as the caves are 100km out of Ajanta and the roads are in pretty poor condition. Fortunately for me I slept much of the journey and so missed the near miss with a bullock cart when the ox pulling it decided to change direction in front of our vehicle rather fast... As soon as you arrive the charges start. Car parking and ‘amenities’ fee were the first ones (we have no idea what the 10 rupees per ... read more
Ajanta
Ajanta - waterfall
Ajanta

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves August 24th 2013

After such a long but amazing day in Ellora, we decided to take a day off from the cave sights and so instead had a lay in, chilled out and decided on going to see Bibi-qa-Maqbara 20 minutes down the road from where we were staying in Aurangabad. Bibi-qa-Maqbara is actually more commonly known as ‘The Mini Taj Mahal’, or the ‘Poor Mans Taj’ The reason for these nicknames is fairly simple in that this mausoleum built just after the original is a smaller less grand version of the Taj Mahal but bears a striking resemblance to it never the less. Having yet to go to Uttar Pradesh to see the actual Taj Mahal, we thought this would be a great way to spend an hour or so looking around this smaller scaled copy to eventually ... read more
Steps leading to Mausoleum
Looking at the caves of Ajanta
Beautiful cave

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves November 18th 2012

I arrived in Delhi on the morning of Diwali, which is said to be as significant as Christmas in the USA. My new roommate Diwik invited me out to a Diwali Party. I had forgotten how bad the air gets on Diwali. You see Indians ignite millions of fireworks of the same kind you would see in a US city for the 4th of July. The big difference is that every citizen can buy and ignite these professional level fireworks that shoot 10-20 stories up into the air and explode into multi-colors, just like the 4thof July. I had forgotten how bad the air gets when everyone can purchase and ignite their own professional grade fireworks. The air was so full of smoke; I had a splitting headache, a congested chest, and a 102 degree temperature ... read more
P1011031
P1010689
Photo 10

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves December 11th 2010

There are no words to describe the last week of my life. I have never been in such an exciting, beautiful, enthralling place. Soul crushing poverty, dirt, smells, tastes, miles of slums interspersed with high rise apartment buildings, toothless rickshaw drivers sharing the road with sports cars, naked children defecating in front of a well lit modern bank, and everywhere the sights and sounds and smells of a city and people that are simultaneously undergoing rejuvenation and decline. Everwhere are women dressed in the darkest purples and blues and reds, with babies propped on small round hips. Open spaces are covered with people dressed in rags and blankets among a zoo of dogs, rats, sheep, cows, and of course, people. Sometimes I feel like I have awoken to the post-apocalypse. The poverty is staggering, and as ... read more
women
train ride
Beauty

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves May 15th 2010

First, a few observations: 1) In India there is no coffee, at least not what we in America would consider coffee. You can order black coffee, but it comes in a dixie cup, and a small one at that - if you order a pot of coffee it comes in what might be considered a normal size coffee cup in America. This has posed a problem. 2) So we drink Chai tea, which also comes in a dixie cup unfortunately, but it is sold nearly everywhere and it is very cheap. This isn't American Chai - I'm not sure what it is, but holy smokes is it delicious. 3) One of the more interesting and hardest things in India to become used to is the hand holding of men: in other words, it is very, very ... read more
Market
Typical Market
Typical Market

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves April 27th 2010

Buddhist Caves - Awesome Just when i thought we'd seen it all, along come the Ajanta Caves............. Set along side a horseshoe bend in the river (dry when we were there), they we were similar in style and age to Ellora, except they lay undiscovered for several hundred years, and were adorned with the most beautiful paintings you could imagine. It was only rediscovered in 1812 by a British hunting party. We climbed to a lookout point high on the opposite bank, which gave wonderful panoramic views of the whole site. Once inside we were met with enormous temples, designed with columns, walls, ceilings and massive statues of Buddha all decorated with intricate, stylish paintings and colorful religious scenes. Deer, and trees, and gods 'picnicking' were common themes, as well as cartoon gargoyles and geometric patterns. ... read more
What no Chapati?
Ajanta's Cave Temples
There are 30 temples down there

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves October 24th 2009

Ajunta Caves, Khuldabad, Daultabad fort and Ellora caves. Trains, trains and more trains. When I travel alone I always play it safe and travel what we would call first class, but Pete and Debu like to go native! Interesting for me. The hawkers that come on at each stop are amazing. You can buy all sorts of food and drinks, books and magazines, newspapers, cigarettes, chains and locks for your suitcase, children’s toys, handkerchiefs, shoes, key rings and more. Then there are the maimed beggars who crawl on and beg and little boys who scurry around the floor sweeping a patch of floor with their shirts for a few coins. It was a real eye opener and something I didn’t see in first class. I guess they are not allowed into those carriages. I shall give ... read more
2.Lots of walking, but it was well worth it.
3.The caves at Ajunta are all Buddhist monasteries and temples.
4.Everything is carved out of the cliff face with no individual pieces of stone.

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves October 20th 2009

Ajanta Rindi arrived on 4th October and we left on 5th October to Aurangabad, Maharastra. This was the first stop on our trip. We were delayed (about 80% of all flights on our trip were delayed) and we missed our connection to Aurangabad. We had to spend one night in Mumbai at Hotel Airport International. I ordered American Chop Suey here which was the worst decision I made regarding food during the entire trip. Rindi made the comment that I should not order anything in the future that is twice removed from it's origin. She is wise! Even though we were in the airport for a short duration, we saw some Bollywood stars (no big names though). We got on an early flight from Mumbai to Aurangabad and headed to Ajanta caves soon after. Our guide, ... read more
Ajanta
Himroo shawl
Himroo shwal weaving

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves January 27th 2009

Antes de llegar a Pune pase por las cuevas de Ajanta (siglo II AC a XI DC, religion budista) y Ellora (siglos V a X, religiones budista, hindu y jain). Los templos son impresionantes y algunas partes tienen pinturas muy bien conservadas. Me gusto mas Ajanta porque esta en un entorno mas choro (como medio escondido) y porque cuando fui habia menos gente. Tambien influye mucho q fueron las primeras q visite, entonces todo era mas impresionante. En todo caso, las fotos hablan por si solas...... read more
Pilar
Buda
relieves y pinturas

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Ajanta Caves January 14th 2009

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. ... read more
The atmospheric insides of Ajanta caves
Posing outside an Ajanta temple cave
Ellora caves




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