Spiritual Ajanta Ellora Caves
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Spiritual Ajanta Ellora Caves
One Of India's Greatest Treasures
During my trip to India, I had the opportunity to visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves. For those who are planning to travel to India, I highly recommend that you visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves. You will not be disappointed.
Ajanta Caves
During a hunting expedition in 1819, John Smith, a British Army Officer, accidentally made an astounding discovery- the Ajanta caves.
It is believed that the Ajanta Caves date back to the 2nd century B.C. They are located near the city of Aurangabad, India and lie deep within the Sahyadri Hills. There are 29 caves in totality.
The caves were built as secluded retreats for Buddhist monks. The monks, using hammers and chisels, carved through the rocks and created a work of art that is beyond words.
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In addition to the magnificent sculptures, Ajanta is best known for its exquisite wall and ceiling paintings, which depict the life of Buddha. Even though many of the paintings have lost its richness in color, the great beauty of the images is spectacular.
When I arrived at the Ajanta caves, I was astounded by its immensity and beauty. It was difficult to imagine that monks, who carved into deep rock gorge using only hammers and chisels, created such a colossal task.
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As I walked into the caves, I was welcomed by spectacular sculptures and mural paintings.
I was extremely fortunate to have gone to Ajanta at a time where not much traffic was present. I was able to move from cave to cave at my own pace, assimilating all of the beauty and details of each one.
By the end of my visit to Ajanta, I was speechless and enthralled by all that I had seen.
After visiting the Ajanta caves, I did not believe that anything could equal or surpass the Ajanta caves. However, I was mistaken. The Ellora caves were breathtaking.
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Ellora Caves
The Ellora caves and temples are known for their extraordinary rock-cut architecture and sculptures. The 34 caves are believed to have been constructed between the 5th and 10th century.
These caves were used as temples, dining areas, living quarters and teaching spaces.
Unlike the Ajanta Caves, which are all Buddhist, the Ellora caves are Hindu, Buddhist and Jain (the oldest religion in the world emanating from ancient India).
Each cave tells a story, and each story is more impressive than the other. The wall carvings depict a story of a world long ago- the world of Shiva, Buddha and Indra.
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| Shiva-Hindu |
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| Buddha-Buddhist |
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| Indra-Jain |
Although the creators of Ajanta as well as Ellora are long gone, their voices continue to be heard through their magnificent work.
Hope you have enjoyed the Spiritual Ajanta Ellora Caves Collage and the various pictures throughout this page.
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