Ellora and Ajanta caves in Aurangabad

Trip Start Nov 21, 2007
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Trip End Oct 01, 2008


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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

We took a 2 day adventure to Aurangabad to see some amazing caves. We left Pune at 11:30 pm on an overnight bus that we paid 250 rupees for (~$7).  The journey was about 6 hours.  Fortunately, we were able to check into our hotel for another 2 or 3 hours of sleep before catching a tour bus to some sights around Aurangabad and the Ellora caves. First we went to the Daulatabad fort, which was much more functional that some of the other forts we have been to thus far. Our guide told us there were 7 levels of security up the mountain. Then, we made our way to the Ellora caves which was interesting because it contains three series of caves covering the Buddhists, Hindu and Jain beliefs.  They caves were carved by hand out of the side of the mountain. There were about 30 caves to visit and while we did not make it to every single one, it was an amazing feat!  The detail in these places was spectacular.  We also visited a "poor man's taj" which was a miniature version of the real thing but made of only 20% marble while THE Taj is made from 100% marble Chand Minar Built in 1435
Chand Minar Built in 1435
 .  Then, we were TIRED so we went back to recover for our next day of caves!

Ajanta caves was just as or more spectacular than the Ellora ones.  The Ajanta caves were all Buddhists.  Again, there were about 30 caves they carved out of the walls of a cliff.  So hard to imagine how they did this with only a chisel and hammer. We have wondered how many times we have taken our shoes on and off during these past few days because almost everyone single cave requires shoe removal.  The thought crossed our minds to just carry them and not put them back on but the ground is MUCH too hot for that! 

Our bus ride home was another adventure.  It was non-AC but actually it was pleasant because it was in the evening.  What to know how much it cost for a 6 hour journey?  170 rupees! (~$4.25) each...however, when we got to Pune, we had to pay a "night charge" for a rickshaw back to the apartment of 350 rupees.  Sometimes you wonder if a rupee saved is a rupee lost!  Part of the travel saga we suppose.

Lots of people want to help or talk to you. So, many people say hello! or country from? Layton has had a few conversations with some super nice people!

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Fortress of Daulatabad Fortress of Daulatabad Layton in front of Big Big doors Layton in front of Big Big doors only one bridge to main area only one bridge to main area confussing tunnel which led many to death confussing tunnel which led many to death
now we are back in the light now we are back in the light BATS gross! BATS gross! Fort's protection Fort's protection one of traps of the dark tunnel one of traps of the dark tunnel
landscape looks like NM landscape looks like NM BIG cannon BIG cannon Layton and peices of the fort Layton and peices of the fort monkeys now occupy the fort monkeys now occupy the fort
BAT BAT Jana in front of cool doors Jana in front of cool doors Now in front of BIG doors Now in front of BIG doors fort took up the whole mountain fort took up the whole mountain
all time periods love the elephant all time periods love the elephant trying to stay cool trying to stay cool our super nice tour bus our super nice tour bus Ellora caves Ellora caves
Buddhist caves Buddhist caves more Buddhists caves more Buddhists caves Viswakarma Viswakarma just trying to show the size just trying to show the size
detail on the column done by hand detail on the column done by hand L checking out the carvings L checking out the carvings they like big boobs then too! they like big boobs then too! cave 12 the huge tin thal cave 12 the huge tin thal
Inside of 12 Inside of 12 details of the hand details of the hand cave 16 kailasa temple hindu cave 16 kailasa temple hindu this place was HUGE this place was HUGE
the main part of the temple the main part of the temple elephants with missing trunks elephants with missing trunks the even painted over the rock back then the even painted over the rock back then just look at the little pieces they carved just look at the little pieces they carved
jana in front of elephants jana in front of elephants close up of jana and elephants close up of jana and elephants Vishnu, god with many arms Vishnu, god with many arms shot from the right porch area shot from the right porch area
carved all of this out of the mountain carved all of this out of the mountain trying to show the mountain and carvings trying to show the mountain and carvings the entrance detail the entrance detail tirthankars or great teacher tirthankars or great teacher
another great teacher another great teacher the jain detail was even greater the jain detail was even greater what more can I learn from this place? what more can I learn from this place? pretty cool pretty cool
column created with no instruments column created with no instruments the even painted AND it lasted the even painted AND it lasted layton pretending to be a great teacher layton pretending to be a great teacher cave 32 indra sabha jain cave 32 indra sabha jain
crap water and a lotus crap water and a lotus bibi-qa-maqbara or poor mans taj bibi-qa-maqbara or poor mans taj nothing like the other but nice windows nothing like the other but nice windows nice lighting nice lighting
kickin' rims on a rickshaw kickin' rims on a rickshaw Taste the Thunder of Thumbs up Taste the Thunder of Thumbs up Ajanta frescoes or tempra paintings Ajanta frescoes or tempra paintings the most complete Buddha in cave the most complete Buddha in cave
vihara had sculpture four deer with one head vihara had sculpture four deer with one head paintings of queen fainting paintings of queen fainting inside cave 2 inside cave 2 Buddha in cave 2 Buddha in cave 2
wheel of law wheel of law 1000 Buddhas was 2nd miracle 1000 Buddhas was 2nd miracle Buddha in cave 4 Buddha in cave 4 side view side view
standing Buddhas in blessing stance standing Buddhas in blessing stance Buddha Buddha cave 9's chiatyas cave 9's chiatyas 200 BC paint dishes 200 BC paint dishes
sumo protected, just kidding sumo protected, just kidding wheel of law for Buddhists to follow wheel of law for Buddhists to follow cave 10 had 200 BC paintings cave 10 had 200 BC paintings cool elephants again cool elephants again
this was one of the first cave spotted 1819 this was one of the first cave spotted 1819 cool shot of the first caves cool shot of the first caves cave 16 entrance cave 16 entrance cave 26 reclining Buddha cave 26 reclining Buddha
cool sculptures around the cave cool sculptures around the cave L hangin' out L hangin' out another of largest Buddha in caves another of largest Buddha in caves Layton in front of caves Layton in front of caves
an unfinished cave an unfinished cave Layton pretending to be Buddha Layton pretending to be Buddha SUCH a serious face SUCH a serious face angels protecting Buddha angels protecting Buddha
Layton's JP of the day Layton's JP of the day cool shot of the other side cool shot of the other side
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