[pramods]

Birthday and Marriage Anniversary in same month on adjacent days plus son exams also ending on the same day, this called for some outing. Never been to Ajanta Ellora, so why not go and see that, learned it is not the best of time to see Ajanta and Ellora because of the ongoing summer, but anywhere we go the heat would be almost same except going to Himalaya.
The final plan, visit Shirdi, come back to Aurangabad and stay there, next day start for Ajanta, return to Ellora and then see around Aurangabad.

Started early from Nagpur, 5AM and reached Shirdi around 3PM, the first shock the free parking is gone, the place where parking used to be is now a construction place and some huge building construction is going on, small commercial parking is now available with a rider, parking is free but you need to take min of Rs150 pooja material.
While returning back from Shirdi, we decided to stay at Ellora rather than in Aurangabad, that would allow us to spend time away from CITY. Stayed at hotel Kailash which is opposite of Ellora caves, the caves are visible from the hotel[cottages].
Next day plan was to start early for Ajanta and come back by 2 PM and go to Ellora caves, the information that I have was and its true to Ajanta caves are facing East, to sun light is there in the first half, while Ellora caves are facing west so second half is best time for Ellora.
Ajanata do having lighting arrangement for almost all of the caves so it doesn't matter when you go to Ajanta, but Ellora doesn't have any lighting and you are dependent on sun, so better to visit in second half.

I hope most of you might have already seen the caves and painting in Ajanta, but for people who want to go there, the caves that need attention are Cave 1,2,16,17 and 26.

will let images do the talking,

Some where between Wardha and Pulgoan




At Ellora, Hotel kailash, view of Ellora Caves






Next day early morning, Near to Ajanta


Road ahead


Ajanta!



MTDC at Ajanta, we were the first one to reach here by the first bus, waiting for breakfast



reached Ajanta caves, first view



Closer look


Cave 1 details


Cave 1


















Cave 2 Details



Cave 2

















I have reached the limit of 30 images here so will post the remaining details in next thread

-Pramod

[pramods]

Cave 2 remaining images






Cave 16 Details


Cave 16
















Cave 17 Details


Cave 17
















This ends the main caves that need the lighting and have painting in Ajanta, these painting are almost 1500 years old and what ever remains are amazing, you can only take picture without flash, no flash are allowed and lighting are done through optic fiber, Rs 5 is charged for lighting for a group of 14 or each individuals.

Cave 26 to be continued...
-Pramod

[pawan_pullarwar]

I had visited Ajanta around 7 years ago just for fun but now I really want to explore it.

[MX6]

That's an interesting bit about the lighting. Sad that these morons don't allow tripods.

[pramods]

Cave 26 Details


Cave 26
















This cave has all the carving related to Budha, this is the last cave that you can go, there are 4 more cave total 30, but only 26 can be seen, 4 remaining cave have no suitable path to reach.

Cave 24, this is half built cave


Cave 24





Other Caves







And a bad try to create panoramic image with multiple images



This complete the Ajanta, would put Ellora later in evening or tomorrow.

-Pramod

[MX6]

The joining of multiple images is good. But what have you done to the texture? some kind of blur or artistic effect in PS? That seems a big jarring.

[pramods]

I didn't used PS, I used an open source product called Hugin, where I joined the common points between 2 images and fixed 1 image as the base else everything was done by software, I am not familiar with that software just downloaded and used, looks like a good software for panoramic provided you have a better images and all taken with same angles, my images angle where different and that's were most of the problem happened.

anyway continuing to Ellora, we spent lot of time looking at all other caves, but all other caves in Ajanta are monastery and very similar, the main caves that need to be visited in Ajanta are 1,2,16,17 and 26.
Once done you need to take bus back to the parking lot[ there are 2 type of bus normal and ac, normal bus cost Rs7 and Ac cost Rs12 one way].
Ellora is 108Km from Ajanta on way back to Ellora we had lunch at one of the road side dhaba and reached Ellora by 3 PM.

The caves to see at Ellora are 5,10,12,15,16, 21 and 32 I left the 32 , by the time I reached the cave 21 and looked at the distance to reach 32 decision was made, there is always next time.

Compared to Ajanat, Ellora is huge and need tons of time to looks around, one need a more than a day and lot of energy to enjoy Ellora, while Ajanta is doable in few hours or a day.

You start off with cave 16 and if you are facing 16 the cave to right are 15-0 while left is 17-34. looking at the entrance you don't realize the hugeness of 16 just step in and you see the massiveness of cave 16 also called a Kailash.

will upload the image of Ellora later.

-Pramod

[MX6]

Thanks for the info on hugin. I shall try it sometime. And waiting for the ellora snaps.

[pramods]

Once you reach Ellora, buy the ticket and park the vehicle in the parking, before reaching there I heard that you can take your own vehicle till few caves, but looks like it was not allowed instead you can hire "auto" which can take you to caves, I choose to walk instead of "auto" , just a caution if you have less time and are not used to walking better take "auto"!!!

The first cave is Cave 16, which is where you start, take right to see 15..0 or left to see 17..34.

Cave 16 images not in any order, this is a huge cave and you need lot of energy and time to see each and every corner.





















Cave 15























View from outside of Cave 12


Cave 12














-Pramod

[pramods]

Image no 9 is not of Cave 16, its of cave 15, I somehow messed that image during uploading and editing, I can't edit the post anymore,

-Pramod
PS: Will be posting the other cave 10, 5 and 21 later today

[manavdotcom]

Cave16 is the example of Excellence in Architecture in ancient India.The best Architectural effort seen so far after Hoysala

[pramods]

Cave 10, this is very similar in architecture of cave 26 seen in Ajanta











Outside view of cave 5, this is were the water fall is, but its dry right now, must be flowing in raining season.



Cave 5


Cave 1



Now we move to cave 21, we have to go back all the way to left of cave 16, its really a long walk from cave 16 toward cave 21 .



Cave 21










And that it, was not having any energy left to go and see cave 32, this completes the Ellora caves.

While returning back to Nagpur next day, took a detour at Sultanpur and went to Lonar, which is 13 km from Sultanpur.















That's it, I hope this virtual tour of Ajanat, Ellora and Lonar would inspire people to go and has a look at the marvelous painting and architectures till it last.

-Pramod

[nvldvr]

Nice pics pramod. Have been thinking of visiting ajanta ellora for a while now. Hopefully should do it sometime soon now.

[hillram]

The Green water body looks awesome.Whether its natural water or contaminated is a different question.

[MX6]

I used to think that ellora and ajanta were buddhist creations. But looking at the sculptures, especially of ellora, it gives me a feeling that the caves were originally works of a hindu kingdom. Seems like buddhists added on to it on later dates.
Anyone with some historical information please?