Ajanta Travel Guide

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  In the middle of the hall is a stupa with an image of the Buddha in a sermon pose, seated as on a chair. Look up to the ceiling and admire the ribbed effect as on a human form. One painting of an expressive face of some celestial being is all that remains of the various... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  There are three entrance to this cave which has numerous statues of the Buddha, including a sleeping one of the left-hand side of the cave. In this statue, we see the figure of the Buddha lying on his right side with his right hand supporting his head. A little further on is... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  This cave has a shrine with the statue of the Buddha in a teaching pose. There are two standing Boddhisatvas on either side of him, each with a flywhisk on their right shoulders. Only the chisel marks remain on the ceiling of the shrine as most of the murals have faded away.... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  This unfinished hall has a statue of the Buddha in the lotus pose with the arms at chest height as though explaining a point. Not to be missed are the images of two deer seated below him, again reminiscent of the Buddha’s first sermon after attaining Enlightenment at the... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  This assembly hall is dated to be much later than the other chaityas but the older pattern, layout and ornamentation has been followed. Of special significance is the imitation of wooden rafters on the ceiling which resemble the ribs of a human body. There is a huge stupa in... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  Yet another shows a couple proceeding on a journey whilst a lady-in-waiting holds an umbrella over the head of the consort. The apsara with a bejewelled head gear is especially appealing. The ceilings of this cave are also full of detailed murals but are larger and more... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  This is yet another magnificent vihara not only for its beautifully carved pillars and sculptures but also for its sensuous murals of apsaras (nymphs), one of which was used (The Flying Apasara) during the Miss World Contest held in Bangalore, India in 1996. One detailed... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  Most of the paintings in this cave have been destroyed but the ones that remain speak volumes of the skill of the painters. One depicts the forcible conversion of Nanda, the half-brother of the Buddha while the others convey a few jataka stories showing the Solomon-like... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  The Flying Couple sculpture in front of the main hall is truly eye-catching. This cave is one of the beautiful viharas (dwelling places or monasteries) of Ajanta. The front pillars, like the ones inside are richly carved while the paintings equals, if not surpasses others in... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  The window above the entrance to this cave was first spotted by Capt. John Smith in 1819, over 1000 years after being hidden from view. This sighting led to the re-discovery of the astounding labour of love, faith, hope, religion and sedulity.The cave is the earliest... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  Though most of the wall paintings are destroyed, those of the ceilings are remarkable and very representative of the skill of the painters. The themes are mostly of flying figures, fruits and of birds. There is one detailed painting of two comical characters, seated with the... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  This cave is as magnificent as Cave 1 but is a smaller one. Even the pillars are as richly decorated as those of Cave 1. Watch out for the stone carving of a seated Hariti and her consort in a small chapel. Ladies may note the hair styles and the ornaments of the painted... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  One of the best, so save it for the last. The pillars in the verandah are as richly decorated as the ones inside, especially the two middle columns at the back. On the frieze of the left hand-side chapel, except for the image of a monk, all the other three ominous sights... 

 anilpradhanshillong Says:  The 30 caves were excavated (dug out, sculptures chiselled and paintings done) in two phases:Phase 1=2nd century BC to 2nd century AD = Caves 9 & 10 (chityas) and Caves 12 & 13 (viharas)Phase 2=3rd century AD to 7th century AD = Caves 19, 26, 29 (chityas) and Caves 1-7, 11,... 

 smirnofforiginal Says:  It is both easy and cheap to take a local bus from Ellora to Ajanta. The journey takes 3 hours and was described as "hot but ok".I paid for a car and driver. Had I arranged when I got to Ellora I could have got the car and driver cheaper. I stupidly arranged it through my...