AJANTA AND ELLORA: SPLENDID EXAMPLES OF ROCK-HEWN ARCHITECTURE

Although mentioned as a single attraction the caves at Ajanta and Ellora are works of art sculpted with the aid of simple tools are two different sites within the same region – the frescoes and sculptures they contain elevate them to masterpieces that rank among the wonders of the ancient world.

My first destination was Ajanta, a group of 30 spectacular caves composed of ancient Buddhist monasteries and worship halls dramatically carved into the steep rock face of a remote horseshoe-shaped valley overlooking the Waghora river – these rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC are universally considered as masterpieces of early Buddhist paintings and religious art in India.

The profusion of rock-cut sculptures of Buddha in various postures – Vipasyi, Sikhi, Visvbhu, Krakuchchanda, Kanakamuni, Kashyapa, and Sakyamuni; and expressive murals of that present scenes from the Jataka tales that recount stories of the Buddha’s previous incarnations as an enlightened being or Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara, the story of Udayin and Gupta, the story of Nalagiri, the Wheel of life, a panel celebrating various ancient Indian musicians and a panel that tells of Prince Simhala's expedition to Sri Lanka and images from the Shaddanta, Hasti, Hamsa, Vessantara, Sutasoma, Mahakapi,

Sarabhamiga, Machchha, Matiposaka, Shyama, Mahisha, Valahassa, Sibi, Ruru and Nigrodamiga Jatakas as well as depictions that weave in the norms, culture, and society of the early 1st millennium – a shipwreck, a princess applying makeup, lovers in scenes of dalliance, a scene of a couple with the woman and man amorously seated – in Cave 16 adorned with two great stone elephants at the entrance

and cave 17 along with the rock carving of the sleeping Buddha in Cave 26 were simply astonishing. I spent the entire morning exploring the magnificence of the Ajanta caves and then drove to the Ellora Cave complex, an impressive group of 34 spectacular rock-cut caves created between the 5th and the 13th centuries on a much grander scale than Ajanta.

Mumbai’s Dabba-Wallahs trains to a centralised sorting It is said that only 300 lunches of more than 200,000 delivered go astray each year!