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Published: October 24th 2009
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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 you a very small rundown on the caves at Ajunta and Ellora but it’s quite impossible for me to explain how amazing these 2 places are.
At Ajunta there are 36 caves, some unfinished and some in disrepair. The oldest has been dated at the second century B.C. The paintings and sculptures
are unbelievable, but the most amazing thing to me is that everything has been carved out of one rock. Pillars, steps, shrines, everything. Nothing has been carved and then placed inside the temples. It’s like imagining St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide being carved out of one giant rock. Pews, columns everything! Mind blowing. All the caves are Buddhist in Ajunta, some are monasteries, others temples but all with a most amazing atmosphere.
So then to Ellora where we checked into the Milan Hotel. Hotel, it wasn’t good enough for my cat! They asked how much were we willing to pay and I replied, not very kindly that they would have to pay me to stay there! But somehow Pete and Debu persuaded me and I accepted so long as I could sleep in with them. I was worried about what might crawl over me in the night. The cracked and filthy wash basin was just for show as it wasn’t connected to water and I have no idea how many people had slept on the sheet before me. Don’t worry, not an inch of my skin strayed onto that putrid piece of cloth. Oh and
the pillow, that got thrown under the bed. Ugggggggh! We were up at 5 the next morning, firstly to get out of the hotel and secondly to get to the caves as early as possible and what a great idea. We were the first ones in there and had the place to ourselves for hours.
If Ajunta was amazing then Ellora is doubly amazing. The caves are not so old, but huge and are Jain, Buddhist and Hindu. If you have the time and the inclination look up Kailash Temple at Ellora on the internet as I don’t have words to describe it.
Then off again on our travels to Goa.
Some of my recent travels. No wonder I feel 105 years old.
Train Delhi to Manmad, train Manmad to Aurangabad, taxi (I was buggered and begged) Aurangabad to Ajunta. Same cluey taxi driver from Ajunta to Khuldabad, Daultabad fort and Ellora.
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BILBOS
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Amazing...I'm planning a visit soon. One question, though. Why did you stay at Ellora? Aurangabad isn't too far off. From aurangabad, how did you travel? Bus or car? And how much time did it take? If you don't mind my correcting you, its Ajanta and not Ajunta...sorry!