Tourist Attraction Ajanta Ellora Cave, India
Ajanta and Ellora has nothing that you can select to eliminate from you tour itinerary. Yet, we have found some best tourist attractions of Ajanta and Ellora according to rating by visitors so that you would not best tourist places of Ajanta and Ellora in hurry.
Buddhist Temples at Ellora
The Buddhist structures at Ellora, like those at Ajanta, are those of monasteries, multi-storey, spacious ones with clearly marked off quarters for the kitchens, for living, sleeping, etc. Some of the twelve caves have shrines of the Buddha, saints, and bodhisattvas cut right into the mountain face. A lot of effort has been made to give the stone a wood like finish.
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Jain Temples at Ellora Caves
Among the important ones are the Indra Sabha (cave 32), Chhota Kailash (cave 30) and the Jagannath Sabha (cave 33). Cave 34 is an unfinished four-pillared hall with a shrine. Another place called Samvatsarana is located in Ellora caves which were used by Tirthankaras preached after attaining omniscience.
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Attraction Name |
Location |
Description |
Highlights |
Ajanta Caves |
Aurangabad, Maharashtra |
A series of 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments famous for ancient murals and sculptures dating from the 2nd century BCE. |
Buddhist frescoes, paintings of Bodhisattva Padmapani & Avalokitesvara |
Ellora Caves |
Aurangabad, Maharashtra |
Monumental complex with 34 caves representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments and artwork built between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. |
Multi-religious art, rock-cut temples, intricate carvings |
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16, Ellora) |
Ellora |
A massive rock-cut Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, considered one of the largest monolithic structures in the world. |
Single rock excavation, divine sculptures, architectural wonder |
Cave 1 (Ajanta) |
Ajanta |
Known for the famous painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani and intricate details of Buddhist life. |
Spiritual aura, wall murals, well-preserved artistry |
Cave 10 (Ajanta) |
Ajanta |
The earliest chaitya hall in Ajanta, dating back to the 2nd century BCE, with a large stupa inside. |
Chaitya architecture, stupa, ancient prayer hall |
Jain Caves (Ellora) |
Ellora |
The Jain caves (30–34) are rich in detail and show a strict sense of asceticism with beautiful carvings. |
Fine stone work, calm spiritual atmosphere |
Cave 26 (Ajanta) |
Ajanta |
Famous for its sculpted reclining Buddha and ornate chaitya hall with magnificent pillars. |
Reclining Buddha, sculptural finesse, historical importance |
Cave 12 (Ellora - Buddhist) |
Ellora |
A three-storeyed Buddhist vihara (monastery) with beautiful carvings and prayer halls. |
Multi-level monastery, statue of Buddha, meditation areas |
Cave 2 (Ajanta) |
Ajanta |
Noted for its ceiling paintings and pillars adorned with lotus medallions and other motifs. |
Colorful ceilings, decorative motifs, peaceful interiors |
Grishneshwar Temple |
Near Ellora Caves |
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, located close to Ellora and a revered pilgrimage site. |
Spiritual significance, architecture, nearby access |
Hindu Temples at Ellora Caves
Kailashnath Temple
Its construction is generally attributed to the 8th century Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. The Kailasa Temple is notable for its vertical excavation—carvers started at the top of the original rock and excavated downward. Within the courtyard, there is a central shrine dedicated to Shiva, and an image of his mount Nandi (the sacred bull). There are five detached shrines in the temple premises; three of these are dedicated to the river goddesses: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
A notable sculpture is that of the Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa.
Grishneshwar Temple/Ghrneshwar Jyotirlinga/ Dhushmeshwar Temple
Grishneshwar Temple / Ghrneshwar Jyotirlinga / Dhushmeshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. It is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-west of the city of Aurangabad. temple is the smallest Jyotirlinga temple in India.
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Dashavatara Temple
Halfway up the Grishneshwar Temple, there is Dashavatar Temple. It is carved temple in stone representing 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
When was Ajanta and Ellora built?
The first phase came to be during the Satavahana Dynasty. The second phase occurred under the patronage of the Vakataka Dynasty, in the 5th century. Around two dozen caves were constructed at this time, more specifically, between 460 and 480 CE, and some of the most intricate art work the Ajanta caves have to offer was done during this time.
After several centuries, the caves were rediscovered in 1819, accidentally, by a British officer of the 28th Cavalry, in the course of hunting tigers. Officer John Smith discovered the entrance to cave 10. In 1848, the Royal Asiatic Society initiated efforts to make the site more accessible by clearing out the rubble and debris that had accumulated over all the years of neglect.
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Rock-Cut Cave Architecture of Ajanta
Cave One: It features some of the finest paintings depicting the Jataka tales, specifically those depicting the previous life of the Buddha as royalty. Vakataka king Harishena funded the building art work of this cave. There is a shrine carved out of living rock on the rear wall, featuring a seated Buddha.
Cave Two: Cave Two is structurally similar to the first. The paintings on the walls are narrating the past lives of the Buddha as a bodhisattva. Another theme which is highly relevant and evident is the depiction of women as noble and in positions of power.
Cave Four, Nine, and Ten: Cave four was the largest monastery planned, but unfortunately the plan never saw completion. There is some noteworthy art work to be found here though, including the depiction of the Buddha in a teaching pose surrounded by bodhisattvas and supposedly, celestial nymphs.
Caves Nine and Ten are originally from the first phase of construction and the second phase saw a renovation effort that also never reached completion.
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Photo Gallery of Tourist Attractions and Nearby Places in Ajanta Ellora India
Ajanata Caves
Cave Temples
Ellora Caves
Grishneshwar Temple
AKailashnath Temple
Aurangabad Caves View More >>
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Ajanata Caves in Maharashtra
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Cave Temple in Maharashtra
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Ellora Caves in Maharashtra
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Grishneshwar Temple
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Kailashnath Temple in Maharashtra
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Aurangabad Caves in Maharashtra
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Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra
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Khuldabad in Maharastra
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Lonaval in Maharashtra
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Mumbai in Maharashtra
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Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh
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