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Altitude : Sea
level
Location : 106 kms. from Aurangabad
Nestling in an inner fold of the Sahyadri hills 100 kms. from
Aurangabad in the shape of a mammoth horse-shoe are the 30 rock hewn
caves of Ajanta dating from the 2nd century B.C.Discovered in 1819
by a group of British officers these startling achievements took
around 600 years to create. Carved with little more than a hammer
and chisel Ajanta was once the retreat of Buddhist monastic orders
and features several ‘Chityas’ and ‘Vibavas’.The exquisite paintings
and sculptures of Buddha’s life belong to the Mahayana period.The 29
caves have been chiselled into rocky sides of a dramatic
crescent-shaped gorge at the head of which is a waterfall that feeds
a natural pool the Sapta Kunda. Two Chaityas and three Vibavas are
Hinayana in origin carved under the rule of the Satvahanas. Caves8,
9,10,12,13 dates back to the second and first centuries B.C. during
the Satvahanas period. The rest are generally alligned to the fifth
and sixth centuries during which the site was under the control of
the Ashmakas and Rishikas. Today Ajanta attracts a steady stream of
visitors. The caves are open daily from 9 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Of all
the beautifully things to see at Ajanta a few of them deserve
special mention.
Cave1:
This large vihara is not just the latest excavated one but also the
most beautifully decorated one. It belongs to the Mahayana era and
has two great masterpieces of Ajanta paintings- ‘Avolokitesvara’ and
‘Padmapani’.
Cave2:
Also a late Mahayana Vihara it has a beautifully painted ceiling
with floral drawings and geometric patterns. It also depicts scenes
surrounding Lord Buddha’s birth and the mirage of 1000 Buddhas.
Cave 16 & 17:
They are covered with frescoes illustrating the 12 takes of Buddha’s
programe towards enlightenment.
Cave19:
Has a mural that shows Buddha begging at his own palace.
Anwa:
This village is situated ten kilometers east of Golegaon on the main
road leading from Aurangabad to Ajanta some 20 kms. South of the
latter. The temple at Anwa is one of the most ambitious projects of
the 12th century Yadava period. The monument locally known as Madha
consists of a sanctuary a closed columned Mandapa and an open
mandapa with a sculpture of Nandi the bull mount of Shiva.
Ghatotkacha:
The two cave-temples at this remote site can only be reached by
jeep. The distance from Ajanta is about 40 kms. These monuments are
of interest since they are related to those at Ajanta. Varaha Deva
donor of Cave 16 at Ajanta was also responsible for the two
monasteries at this site. |
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