India Caves

The Rock-out Caves of Ellora and Ajanta, Maharashtra, India

By Terry Orr

Totally Amazing! Sure makes you wonder how they did this.

YouTube has several videos on these caves - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ILp_l10uw&list=TLeFCpRDqe1Lo are nine of over 90 that are available and very educational.

Ajanta Caves

The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

Ellora Caves

These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad, in Maharashtra. Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

Going to add these to your Bucket List?

[Photos from Google]