Ellora(वेरूळ) Cave,Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India
Location : Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India.
The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad.
Built In :
These caves were built during the 5th-7th century.
Built By :
HOW TO REACH ELLORA CAVES?
Nearest Airport : Aurangabad(15km)
Nearest Railway Station : Aurangabad
Aurangabad is the nearest railway station, and there are regular trains from Mumbai,Hyderabad, Delhi, Amritsar etc. There is an overnight train from Mumbai.
By Bus :
- Aurangabad is the nearest location for inter-state buses.
- Aurangabad to Ellora is around 30km. One can reserve Auto which will charge around Rs 350-400. Or else take Govt Buses from Central bus stop (Aurangabad).
Ellora caves lay in the lap of the Chamadari hills extending over a mile and a quarter in the north-south direction and are situated 18 miles northwest of Aurangabad.
Ellora represents some 300 years of great experiments carried out by different faiths with their very different iconography and structural compulsions.
Ellora caves are finest specimens of cave temple architecture. They house elaborate facades and exquisitely adorned interiors.
These structures representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, were carved during 350 AD to 700 AD period. The cave monuments of Ellora were chiefly patronised by the Chalukya - Rashtrakuta rulers (7th - 10th century AD).
These cave shrines are memorable for their invaluable contribution to the enormous wealth of Indian heritage. There are 34 caves in total. These can be divided into three groups belonging roughly to three periods: Buddhist, Hindu and Jain.
Only 12 of the 34 caves are Buddhist, but even these caves incorporate the Hindu and Jain theme, demonstrating the gradual decline of Buddhism.
It took over five centuries for the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monks to chisel out these monasteries, temples, and chapels and decorate them with remarkable imagination and detail.
Sixteen caves are the oldest in the group and were carved in the 5th century. As one enters these caves, one crosses graceful angles and steps in a high ceiling chamber where a 15 feet huge statue of Buddha is sitting in a preaching pose.
In these caves the artist has tried an element of surprise by giving them an expression of wood. Most of these 16 caves are 'Viharas' but cave number 10 is a 'Chaitya'. The 10th cave has an impression of wooden beams on its ceiling and has a small decorated window, which illuminates the sitting Buddha.
These caves are rightly called the "Vishvakarma" caves. This cave is considered to be one of the finest caves in India.
The Buddhists believe that Buddha returns after every five thousand years, thus the 12th cave has seven images of Buddha depicting his seven incarnations.
The 16th cave in the group is one of the audacious feats in architecture ever achieved. The idea was to build Kailash from a single stone. Hence it got its name, Kailasnath temple.
Mural paintings in Ellora are found in 5 caves, but only in the Kailasa temple are they somewhat preserved.
PHOTO GALLERY :
The Vishvakarma :
The Vishvakarma (Cave 10) is the only chaitya griha amongst the Buddhist group of caves.
It is locally known as Vishvakarma or Sutar ka jhopda "carpenter's hut".
It follows the pattern of construction of Caves 19 and 26 of Ajanta. On stylistic grounds, the date of construction of this cave is assigned to 700 A.D.
The chaitya once had a high screen wall, which is ruined at present.
At the front is a rock-cut court, which is entered through a flight of steps. On either side are pillared porticos with chambers in their back walls.
1)Buddhist Caves :
5 th century to 7 th century AD
Caves 1 to 12 at the southern end
hese caves were built during the 5th-7th century.
It was initially thought that the Buddhist caves were one of the earliest structures, created between the fifth and eighth centuries, with caves 1-5 in the first phase (400-600) and 6-12 in the later phase (mid 7th-mid 8th), but now it is clear to the modern scholars that some of the Hindu caves (27,29,21,28,19,26,20,17 and 14) precede these caves.
The earliest Buddhist cave is Cave 6, followed by 5,2,3,5 (right wing), 4,7,8,10 and 9.
Caves 11 and 12 were the last. All the Buddhist caves were constructed between 630-700.
Caves 11 and 12 were the last. All the Buddhist caves were constructed between 630-700.
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2)Hindu Caves :
8 th century to 10 th century AD
Caves 13 to 29 in the middle
Hindu caves are the Rameshvara (Cave 21), which has figurines of river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance and the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29) whose design is similar to the cave temple on Elephanta Island near Mumbai.
Two other caves, the Ravan ki Khai (Cave 14) and the Nilkantha (Cave 22) also have several sculptures. The rest of the Hindu caves, which include the Kumbharvada (Cave 25) and the Gopilena (Cave 27) have no significant sculptures
Two other caves, the Ravan ki Khai (Cave 14) and the Nilkantha (Cave 22) also have several sculptures. The rest of the Hindu caves, which include the Kumbharvada (Cave 25) and the Gopilena (Cave 27) have no significant sculptures
3)Jain Caves :
9 th century to 11 th century AD
Caves 30 to 34 at the northern end
The five Jain caves at Ellora belong to the ninth and tenth centuries. They all belong to the Digambara sect.
Jain caves reveal specific dimensions of Jain philosophy and tradition. They reflect a strict sense of asceticism – they are not relatively large as compared to others, but they present exceptionally detailed art works.
The most remarkable Jain shrines are the Chhota Kailash (cave 30), the Indra Sabha (cave 32) and the Jagannath Sabha (cave 33).
Cave 31 is an unfinished four-pillared hall and a shrine. Cave 34 is a small cave, which can be approached through an opening on the left side of Cave 33
Jain caves reveal specific dimensions of Jain philosophy and tradition. They reflect a strict sense of asceticism – they are not relatively large as compared to others, but they present exceptionally detailed art works.
The most remarkable Jain shrines are the Chhota Kailash (cave 30), the Indra Sabha (cave 32) and the Jagannath Sabha (cave 33).
Cave 31 is an unfinished four-pillared hall and a shrine. Cave 34 is a small cave, which can be approached through an opening on the left side of Cave 33
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Ajanta Caves Aurangabad Maharashtra,India
Location: Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India
Ajanta caves are located 99-km away
from Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra.
Built In :
Ajanta caves were carved out from
the 2nd century BC to 6th century AD, and are ranked high as a world heritage
site.
HOW TO REACH THERE?
Nearest Airport :
The closest airport is at
Aurangabad, 108 kms away.
Nearest Railway Station :
The closest railhead to Ajanta is
Jalgaon which is approximately and hour and a half away. It is possible to hire
a car or take a bus from here to the caves.
Nearest Bus Stop :
Regular buses ply from Jalgaon and
Aurangabad to Ajanta. Otherwise you can choose to hire a private taxi to take
you around.
Where to Stay?
There are limited places to stay in Ajanta. You can check in Ajanta Travellers Lodge or Hotel Padmapani Park on Jalgaon-Aurangabad highway.
Most visitors prefer to stay in Aurangabad or Jalgoan where there are a variety of hotels, from budget to luxury.
Best Time To Visit :
Winter
months (from October to February) or during the monsoons are a good time to
visit the Ajanta Caves. Weekends and holidays tend to be very hectic with
plenty of visitors to the cave.
About Ajanta Caves :
They were hidden in the midst of a
lonely glen with a streamlet flowing down below. They were scooped out into the
heart of the rock so that the pious Buddhist monk could dwell and pray.
During
this time, images of Buddha interpreting his different life stories and several
types of human and animal figures were carved out of rock in-situ.
All sections of people of the
contemporary society from kings to slaves, women, men and children are seen in
the Ajanta murals interwoven with flowers, plants, fruits, birds and beasts.
There are also the figures of 'Yakshas',
'Kinneras' (half human and half bird) 'Gandharvas' (divine musicians),
'Apsaras' (heavenly dancers), which were of concern to the people of that time.
The Ajanta caves are dedicated solely to Buddhism.
The 30 Chaityas and Viharas have
paintings, which illustrate the life and incarnations of Buddha. The artist has
lent his creativity in each work with an overwhelming sense of vitality.
History
:
The monastic complex of Ajanta consists of several
viharas (monastic halls of residence) and chaitya-grihas (stupa monument halls)
cut into the mountain scarp in two phases.
The first phase is mistakenly called
the Hinayana phase (referring to the Lesser Vehicle tradition of Buddhism, when
the Buddha was revered symbolically).
Actually, Hinayana – a derogative term
for Sthaviravada – does not object to Buddha statues. At Ajanta, cave numbers
9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A (the last one was re-discovered in 1956, and is still
not officially numbered) were excavated during this phase.
These excavations
have enshrined the Buddha in the form of the stupa, or mound.
Paintings
:
Therefore, many areas of the painted walls, ceilings, and pillars are fragmentary.
The painted narratives of the Jataka tales are depicted only on the walls, which demanded the special attention of the devotee.
The process of painting involved several stages. The first step was to chisel the rock surface, to make it rough enough to hold the plaster.
The plaster was made of clay, hay, dung and lime. Differences are found in the ingredients and their proportions from cave to cave. While the plaster was still wet, the drawings were done and the colors applied.
The wet plaster had the capacity to soak the color so that the color became a part of the surface and would not peel off or decay easily.
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Top 7 most famous Caves in India
1) Ajanta
Caves,Aurangabad
2) Ellora
Caves,Aurangabad
4) Udaygiri
Caves,Bhubaneshwar
5) Kandhagiri
Caves,Bhubaneshwar
7) Borra
Caves,Vishakapatnam
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Lonavala Khandala Karala hill station
Location :
Lonavala,Khandala,Karla
Khandala and Lonavala lie 5 km,
apart, on the western slopes of the Sahyadris, straddling the Mumbai-Pune
highway at an altitude of 625 m. Karla is 8 km. from Lonavala.
HOW TO REACH
THERE?
Nearest Railway Stations : Lonavala
Pune-Lonavala
: 64 km
Mumbai
-Lonavala, 104 km
Nearest Airport:
Pune(66 km)
Languages spoken
:
Marathi, Hindi and English.
Best time to
visit :
October to May
Climate and
clothing :
Temperatures vary from 12° C in
winter to around 36° C at the height of summer.
The annual rainfall averages 450 cms.
Where To Stay ?
MTDC Holiday
Resort :
It is just off the Mumba - Pune
road. It offers a bar and a restaurant,
a water park and boating on a private lake, 2/3/4/6/-bedded A/C and non-A/C
self-contained rooms are available, but advance bookings is advisable
ABOUT Khandala,
Lonavala and Karla :
The twin hill resorts of Khandala
and Lonavala have a special attraction for the Mumbai crowd seeking a
convenient weekend holiday in the hills.
A mere 3 hours by road from
Mumbai, beautifully landscaped Lonavala and Khandala are famous for their
seemingly innumerable varieties of chikki.
But they also offer many sites worth visiting.
Trekking is a good way to get around, but
having a vehicle (even a bicycle) is still better, as some points of interest
are quite some distance from the main towns.
Other attractions: Bhushi Dam,
Valvan Dam, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital, Duke’s Nose, Ryewood Park, Tiger’s
Leap
Famous places
in Khandala, Lonavala and Karla :
1)Duck’s Nose :
This cliff resembles the nose of
the Duke of Wellington, which explains its intriguing name. It is a popular viewpoint as it offers a
breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forests.
2)Korigad Fort :
The hill fort of Korigad in Amby
Valley is located roughly 3050 ft. above sea level.
To get there, you travel from
Lonavla to the village of Shahpur using any available means of transport, and
thence proceed by foot to the fort through rugged hills and forests.
3)Tiger’s Leap :
When viewing the valley from a
certain point at this location, one has the illusion of a tiger leaping across
the valley, hence the name.
The echoes caused by dropping
rocks into the crevasse is another attraction.
4)Lohgad :
Lohgad attracts visitors with its
wide, refreshing waterfalls, an ancient fort, and, of course, those famous
caves – atop a steep flight of steps.
5)Karla &
Bhaja Caves :
Nestling in the hills of
Lonavala, these rock-cut caves rank amongst the oldest finest examples of Early
Buddhist temple art in India.
The Karla Cave, the largest Early
Buddhist shrine in India, imitates the look of more familiar wooden
architecture.
Completed in 80 BC, the
impressive structure includes a representation of the Buddha, and an aisle made
up of 37 pillars and carved elephant heads, which once had real ivory
tusks. The Bhaja Cave complex comprises
18 caves and 14 stupas.
Dating from around 200 BC, these
architectural curiosities lie amidst thick greenery in a setting that’s so calm,
it’s almost mystical.
Just outside Karla Caves. Ekvira Temple is visited by thousands of
devotees, mainly fisher folk.
PHOTO GALLARY :
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Elephanta Cave Mumbai,India
Location :
Elephanta caves is 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai
Built by:
Kalchuri King Krishnaraja
Built in:
6th century.
Highlights
:
Explore the Elephanta Caves, built to honor Shiva.
See the numerous Hindu rock sculptures and arvings in the western part of the island and the Buddhist rock monuments in the eastern section.
HOW TO REACH THERE?
Nearest Railway Station : Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal(CST)
Nearest Airport : Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal Airport
To get to Elephanta Caves, you will need to go to the Gateway of India in the Mumbai city. From here, get the tickets for the launch (boat or ferry ).
The journey takes 1 hour to reach the island by sea.
The launch travels at a speedof 14 Nautical miles. The tickets are available at the Maharastra tourism development corp (MTDC) at the entrance of Gateway.
The launch (boat) leaves from gate no.4 at the rear of Gateway of India.
It is about a 45-minute boat ride from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island.
Timing is between 9.00 to 14.30 hrs. It is closed only on MONDAYS. The best time to visit is between November and March.
ABOUT ELEPHANTA CAVE :
The Elephanta Caves are a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large Mumbai meteropolis.
The Elephanta island is located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE.
The Elephanta cave was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island.
These rock cut temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva are rich in sculptural content. Motorboats take passengers from Appollo Bunder near the Gateway of India.
How They Elephanta Cave Constructed:
This rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images.
The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk.
The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock.
The entire cave temple complex covers an area of about 60000 squrare feet and it consists a main chamber and two lateral ones , courtyards and several subsidary shrines. Above the temple is the mass of natural rock.
There are three entrances to this temple. The ones on the east and the west marking the axis of the temple. A 20 pillared hall lines the axis, and on its western end is the cella in shich is enshrined a Shivalingam.
The pillars consist of fluted columns standing on square bases, and are crowned with fluted cushion capitals.
The
enigmatic image of Trimurthi Sadasiva:
The Sadasiva manifestation of Shiva is carved in relief at the end of the north south axis. This collossal 20 feet high image of the three headed Shiva, Trimurthy is a magnificient one, considered to be a masterpiece of Indian art. This colossal image represents Panchamukha Shiva, only three faces of whom are carved into the wall and it demands immediate attention upon entering the temple through the northern entrance. See All About Shiva for more information on Panchamukha Shiva.
Also on the southern wall are grand sculptured images of Kalyanasundara, Gangadhara, Ardhanariswara and Uma Maheswara. To the west of the northern entrance are sculptured images of Nataraja and Andhakaasuravadamoorthy, and to its east are images of Yogiswara and Ravanaanugrahamurthy.
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