(You’ll find links to all parts of this Maharashtra tour series at the end of this post.)
All in all, it was a very enjoyable holiday. We visited four cities, saw many interesting places, and caught up with a few friends, too.
The previous posts on the tour were published from the Blogger mobile app. The photos appear in a small size. I have made them bigger now.
The travelogue resumes.
MONDAY, MAY 12
Our hotel had its own cab service, so arranging transport was easy. We started early – around 6.15 am.
The main highlight of our trip was the Ellora Caves. Though Ajanta Caves is equally famous, we skipped it as it’s over 100 km away.
Ellora is just 29 km from Aurangabad, and we reached there early, before the sun got too harsh.
A foreigner?
At the ticket counter, I had a bit of an amusing encounter.
When I told the official, "Two tickets, please," he asked me, "Are you a foreigner?"
My "No, I'm Indian" followed by "From Bangalore in Karnataka" didn't seem to entirely convince him.
I have no idea what made him think that I was a foreigner. Perhaps it was my hat. People here usually sport a cap.
The ticket price difference is quite stark: ₹40 for Indians versus ₹600 for foreign visitors. The higher rate for foreigners is common at all Indian historical sites.
Anyway, without asking for any identification document, the official issued me two ₹40 tickets.
Do you need a guide?
Guides approached us, claiming to be government-approved and showing ID cards.
But you don’t really need one, as there's enough info on the boards and plenty online.
Still, a guide can enrich the experience by explaining the sculptures and stories behind them.
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| Caves 1 to 5 |
The marvel
Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to one of the world’s largest rock-cut cave complexes. There are over 100 caves in total, though only 34 are open to visitors – 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and 5 Jain.
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| Caves 1 to 5 |
The site stretches over 2 km. The caves are carved into the basalt cliffs of the Charanandri Hills.
The caves were built between 600 and 1000 AD, mainly during the Rashtrakuta and Yadava dynasties. Royals, traders and wealthy patrons funded these massive projects.
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| The hall in Cave 5 |
Buddhist caves 1 TO 12
These were the earliest, built between the 6th and 8th centuries. Most of them are viharas or monasteries with prayer halls, living areas, and kitchens.
Hindu caves 13 TO 29
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| Cave 16 |
Jain caves 30 TO 34
These are about 2 km away from the main group, but electric buggies make the ride easy.
Though smaller, the carvings are intricate and beautiful. These caves have a very similar architectural style and devotional patterns.
Weather was kind
It was warm but manageable. We had our hats and we kept sipping water mixed with Electral.
(Electral is an oral rehydration salt formulation that can be added to water. It's good for rapid rehydration and energy replenishment.)
Two unique temples
We also visited two nearby temples:
Grushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, just half a kilometre away, is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of the Hindu god Shiva. (Jyotirlinga is a devotional representation of Shiva.) The temple had suffered significant damage during conflicts, and it was repeatedly rebuilt, the latest restoration done in 1729.
The other one was the Bhadra Maruti Temple, about 4 km from Ellora, dedicated to Lord Hanuman in a rare reclining posture. Only one other such temple exists, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where the lord is in a reclining position.
Don't miss it
Ellora Caves are truly a marvel, not just for their size, but also for the skill, devotion and vision of the people who worked on them. To think these structures were carved centuries ago without modern tools is mind-blowing. If you ever get a chance, don’t miss it!
We visited two more places today. That will be in the next post in a few days.
(To be continued)
Maharashtra tour 2025 series
Day 1 - May 6 - Chugging along to Pune
Day 2 - May 7 - Pune - News, nuisance, and festivities
Day 3 - May 8 - Pune - A day of mixed emotions
Day 4 - May 9 - Pune - History, temple, and reminiscences
Day 5 - May 10 - Pune - Whirlwind tour and news flash
Day 6 - May 11 - Sambhaji Nagar - A special breakfast and a tryst with nature
Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Ellora Caves
Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara
Wow, what awesome photos, it looks like an amazing place
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
Delete200 years to carve it?!? I mean, how did they know it was done? That's quite the feat.
ReplyDeleteQuite a feat indeed!
DeleteMaybe eight generations of workers from start to end. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising that it took so long, considering that the tools, which are available now, weren't there then.
DeleteYou seem to be travelling pretty much these days. By the way, amazing pics here.
ReplyDeleteHi Tomi - Took it easy, considering that I didn't have to take leave like earlier!
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteYou really did pack that trip!!! Ellora eluded me when I was in India, although I do of course know of them and know several folk who've visited. They are astounding - every bit as much as the pyramids of the Egyptians and Incas or Aztecs. And these days we struggle to make anything that will last as well or impress as much. YAM xx
Next time you are in India, you can visit. You are right. We have advanced equipment today, but the quality of work doesn't match!
DeleteGlad you had a great time. That was funny asking if you are a foreigner. May be you were talking in English to someone OR that guy never heard of Malayalam.
ReplyDeleteYa, it was quite funny. May be my hat or the way I asked for two tickets!
DeleteCloses thing I been to a cave, is lava tubes.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I haven't seen a lava tube. In which place were the lava tubes you went to?
DeleteWell, that was a revelation for me Pradeep. I had no idea that something like this existed outside of Petra. Huge and intricate and definitely worth the visit. Thanks for sharing your photos and a little of the history.
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne - Yes, those caves are really amazing work!
DeleteDo UNESCO World Heritage Sites include any other rock cut caves complexes? If not, they should. What an amazing architectural talent, and still intact!
ReplyDeleteHels
Art and Architecture, mainly
Thank you for sharing these amazing images!
ReplyDelete