ajanta ellora caves and aurangabad

Ajanta Ellora Caves

AJANTA is world's greatest historical monument recognised by UNESCO located just 55kms from Jalgaon city and 105kms from Aurangabad City of Maharashtra, India. There are 30 caves in Ajanta of which 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29 are chaitya-grihas and the rest are monasteries. These caves were discovered in AD 1819 and were built up in the earlier 2nd century BC-AD. Most of the paintings in Ajanta are right from 2nd century BC-AD and some of them about the fifth century AD and continued for the next two centuries. All paintings shows heavy religious influence and centre around Buddha, Bodhisattvas, incidents from the life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The paintings are executed on a ground of mud-plaster in the tempera technique.

At Ajanta, the paintings on the walls, illustrate the events in the life of prince Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and in the more popular Jatakas stories pertaining to Buddha's previous incarnation. According to the older conceptions, the Buddha wrought many deeds of kindness and mercy in a long series of transmigration as a Bodhisattva, before achieving his final birth as the sage of sakyas.

how to reach 

By Air:
Currently Aurangabad is the nearest Air point for Ajanta. It can be reached from New Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay), international airport. Indian airlines as well as Jet Airways have daily flight to Aurangabad from New Delhi and Mumbai. 

Jalgaon has also developed its Airport. Soon it will also start. Ajanta Caves is far near from Jalgaon Airport while a bit distant from Aurangabad Airport.

By Rail: 
Jalgaon is the best place to drop in for Ajanta if you like Rail journey. It is centre point of all major railway stations of India and has Bhusaval (Just 28kms from Jalgaon) as Second largest depot of railways in entire Asia.
All Super Fast, express, mail and passenger trains stops at Bhusaval and most of them at Jalgaon as well. You can check online status of availability of reservation on Indian railways official website. From Jalgaon, you can pick up Taxi/ state transport department bus to reach ajanta.

Cave Timings: 
9.00AM to 17.30PM Indian Standard Time (IST)

Ajanta Caves remain closed on Monday. CAVES REMAIN OPEN ON ALL NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

places to see

Apart from the various caves at Ajanta and Ellora and the different Buddha sculptures, there are a variety of other places to see in and around the caves. The Kailasa Temple is one such excavation and is one of the largest monolithic structures in the world. This temple has continuously attracted pilgrims all year round, through the decades and to the present day. Once you have admired the Buddhist architecture and the beautiful paintings that adorn the cave walls, there are a few other places you could explore. The Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Daulatbad Fort and the Buddhist monasteries outside the cave complex are worth a visit. If you have the time to visit Aurangabad, which is only 104 km from Ajanta and Ellora, you could also pay a visit to the Aurangabad Caves, the Panchakki and the Aurangabad City Walls

shopping

There are quite a number of souks outside both the Ajanta and Ellora caves. If you are looking for fabrics, silver, semi-precious stones, beads and local, hand-carved sculptures of Buddha, then this is the place to be! Ellora is slightly more shopper-friendly and offers a greater variety of products including apparel, footwear and accessories to name a few. Local images and paintings of various Hindu Gods along with Buddha, and even Jain, paintings can be found here

food 

The walk from the Ajanta Caves to the Ellora Caves can be quite a task and can also make you very thirsty. Throughout the journey, there are local food stalls and counters were soft drinks, fresh juices and snacks are sold. If you are looking for restaurants, then both cave sites have MTDC restaurants and an MTDC resort that serves a delectable array of food, refreshments and drinks to get you prepped for the rest of the day.

accommodation

Boutique Hotel

HOTEL KAILAS

Ellora Caves, Ellora District, Aurangabad
+91 2437 244446

•  
• www.hotelkailas.com/

Budget Hotels

• Ajanta Travellers Lodge 
  Near Ajanta Caves, 
  Maharashtra - 431118
• Ajanta T-Junction - MTDC run hotel
  Near Ajanta Caves, 
  Maharashtra - 431118
• Padmapani Park 
  Near Ellora Caves,
  Maharashtra - 431118

discover aurangabad

a land of wonders .....

A perfect place to spend leisurely time, internal transport of the city is efficient and comfortable. After a day full of site seeing, Aurangabad provides various options to relax during the evening. Just a few years ago named fastest growing city of Asia, the city’s rate of development has rocketed once more over the last five years, resulting in a newly developed international airport, several huge shopping complexes and malls, multiplex cinema halls, five star hotels and a wide range of specialty restaurants throughout the city. With its warm and hospitable nature, the city of Aurangabad invites you to spend a perfect holiday.

Aurangabad City Sight Seeing half Day Tour - Aurangabad/Maharashtra

Bibi Ka Maqbara : Bibi Ka Maqbara is the tomb of Begum Rabia Durani, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb. The arched alcove surmounted by a swelling dome, exhibit the excellence of Persian architecture. The layout and surrounding of the tomb is very much similar to that of Taj but some how the architecture fails to produce the magic of Taj.

Panchakki -Also reputed as the shrine of a saint, Baba Shah Musafir, Panchakki (Water Wheel) is considered a marvel of engineering. Driven by water brought through earthen pipes from the river 6km away, the mill once ground grain for pilgrims.

aurangabad caves - 

Aurangabad has its own group of caves 2 km north of the Bibi-ka-Maqbara. They were carved out of the hillside around the 6th or 7th century AD. The 10 caves are all Buddhist; caves 1 to 5 are in the western group and caves 6 to 10 are 1 km away in the eastern group.

Cave 7 is the most interesting of the Aurangabad caves. Most impressive are the sculptures, figures of women which are scantily clad and ornately bejewelled. They show the rise of Tantric Buddhism during this period. To the left of Cave 7 is a huge Bodhisattva praying for deliverance from the 8 dangers: fire, the sword of the enemy, chains, shipwreck, lions, snakes, mad elephant and demon (representing death).

Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort magnificent 12th century fortress stands on a hill, Built by Raja Bhillamraj once known as 'Devgiri', Initially a Yadav stronghold, it passed through the hands of several dynasties in the Deccan. The ‘Daulatabad’ (city of fortune) name was give by Muhamad Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi.

When Muhammad Tughlak ascended the Delhi throne, he was so taken by the fortress that he decided to move his court and capital there, renaming it Daulatabad, "the City of Fortune". He ordered the entire population of Delhi to move out en masse to the new capital.

Daulatabad Fort, a rock-hewn fortress dominating the landscape, from a 600 feet high mesa-like flat terrain, is 14 kilometer away from Aurangabad City. Daulatabad Fort is one of the world's best preserved Fort, survived without being altered. Daulatabad Fort is said to be only occupied by cheating. A series of secret, puzzled, endless passages lounge curved like a python amidst the fort. Here blazing torches were push upon enemies. Or hot oil poured down his path, as he deliberated in the maze. The Fort itself lies in the body of an isolated hill; the steep hill - sides at the base falling so sharply to the moat that no aggressive troops could scale the height. The moat, 40 feet deep with mechanical drawbridges full with crocodiles.

how to reach 

There are regular buses from Aurangabad to Daulatabad Fort. Alternative you can hire private car, there are plenty of tour operator you can avail service from. The drive from Aurangabad to Daulatabad Fort takes half hour

Best Time to Visit

Best time to visit Daulatabad Fort is during the months of October to February (winter season) and from June to September (monsoon season), these are the best time to visit Daulatabad, as the weather is really pleasant during these months.

here is a video of  daulatabad fort

after all exploring its time to eat ....

food at aurangabad - 

the erstwhile Mughal capital has still retained most of the medieval Tughlaq cuisine albeit with some minor changes. Being an erstwhile military base during Aurangazeb's rule, it was necessary to avoid lighting a fire for cooking during night times, so as to prevent the enemies from knowing the outpost's location. Out of necessity, the style of slow cooking in a tandoor for 8-10 hours was developed, a custom which is still prevalent today.

Being a Muslim predominated area, this place is a gourmand's delight, especially for non-vegetarians. Naankhaliya can be considered as the staple food of the region. A simple dish of Sheermal or the naan bread cooked in a tandoor served with khaliya, a spicy red mutton curry, which has been slow cooked all day. A very filling dish which is a delight to the palate as well, you will find this dish in almost every roadside dhaba and restaurant of aurangabad.

must try in aurangabad 

1. beef tikki kababs at buddi lane(gali)
2. mawa jalebi at shagnaj near roshan gate 
3. haleem at munna bhai stall at himayat bagh 
4. paya (trotter soup) at islami restaurent near delhi gate

paya (trottersoup)

mawa galebi

buddi lane (gali)

TARA  pan center - 

at the end of the meal you should must visit to this shop you will get so many variety of pan's from 10 rs to 5000 rs and its really worth. TARA pan is the treat for KING & Common Man.

 

that's all folks !

thank you !