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Published: August 14th 2008
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Ajanta - a different view
This was the fourth time that we were visiting Ajanta. We had seen the cave paintings first time about 36 years back, when they were in a much better state of preservation. Over the past 36 years they have deteriorated despite the efforts to conserve them and so every visit to Ajanta makes us more pensive.
However, Ajanta and Ellora still work their charm on us because of their unique geological formations.
We still experience the thrill that Captain John Smith must have felt when he discovered those caves hidden under thick foliage back in 1819, when he was hunting a tiger along with his brother officers.
It was one lucky tiger. I am sure Captain John Smith and his brother officers did not pursue and kill it as their attention was diverted to the caves and the treasure of paintings within.
The view of the caves from the Observation Point (from the top of which Captain John Smith must have first glimpsed the caves.) is a mesmerizing sight, especially during monsoon when the whole horse-shoe-shaped valley below looks like a canvas on which myriad shades of fresh green color have
been applied. Dark purple flowers vie with bright orange of Gulmohur trees for attention.
At the Observation Point, our driver told us that there are good, concrete steps to go down the valley which would reach the foot of a bridge across the Waghora River. (Incidently, Waghora means Tiger River in Marathi.) The bridge leads directly to the cave 9.
I was not particularly enthusiastic about climbing down. The previous day, I had climbed down and up the ‘good, stone steps’ at Lonar and my feet and knees were still sore.
However, when I saw the ‘good, concrete steps’, I was impressed. I was told that Japanese Govt. had built those, which explained their neat, clean and easy appearance. There was even a steel balustrade to lean on. Encouraged by the steps, we decided to climb down even though it looked like a steep and long climb.
I missed the all-important information on the top step where a figure of 1257 was carved. Avi correctly interpreted it to mean that there are 1257 steps to the bottom but the mean fellow did not tell me. (Even if he had told me, I would have disbelieved him
and interpreted the figure to mean 1257 A.D. when the caves were carved. Such is the relationship between us!! Why did I marry him?)
It was a hard climb even though it was downhill but I am not sorry. We got unusual views of the whole valley and saw the beautiful Ajanta waterfall, which is not visible if you take the normal route. (This Ajanta waterfall is also temporary because it dries up after the monsoon.) Two cascades are visible in our photos but we were told that the water falls in seven cascades from the top with small pools at each level.
About the paintings inside the caves, I won’t write anything because enough has been written about them. I will just upload the photos of unusual views of Ajanta that we clicked as we climbed down.
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