Ajanta and Ellora Caves: History, facts, Best Time to visit & Information

by Indiator

March 30, 2018

in Tour and Travels India, Travel Tips

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Things to know before you visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves!

Famous for heritage sites, Ajanta and Ellora caves which date back to 5^th and 8^th centuries. There are 64 rock cut caves listed under UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interiors and exteriors have intricate carvings and cave paintings.

Ajanta and Ellora have located 110 km and 30 km away respectively from Aurangabad. Ajanta and Ellora caves are a paradise for history lovers as these caves are perfect examples of beautiful Buddhist Architecture.

History of the Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

Ajanta caves are a set of 29 caves in the form of a horseshoe, depicting Buddhist architecture, cave paintings, and sculptures. It also has shrines which are dedicated to the Lord Buddha which was used by Buddhist monks for meditation.

The Ellora caves have carvings, sculptures inspired by Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism and are a set of 34 caves. It has the most magnificent Kailasa Temple (cave 16) which attracts pilgrims from across the world.

These sites were declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1983 since it had influenced the development of art in India.

Best time to visit the caves:

The best time to visit Ajanta and Ellora caves is from June to March. Winter and Monsoon are an ideal time to visit these caves as the climate is quite pleasant.

Timings:

The Ajanta and Ellora caves open from 9 am till 5 pm. Ajanta caves are closed on Mondays while Ellora caves are closed on Tuesdays.

Entry Fee:

The entry to Ajanta and Ellora caves is 500 INR for foreigners while 30 INR for Indians.

How to reach Ajanta and Ellora:

Ajanta and Ellora caves can be reached easily by air, by train, and by road. The closest railway station is Aurangabad Railway Station and the closest airport is Aurangabad Airport. Most convenient is to take a taxi to commute to both cave sites.

Attractions of Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

The extraordinary architectures and ancient carvings, sculptures at the Ajanta and Ellora caves attracts tourists from all over the world. Kailasa Temple, the cave 16 at Ellora is a major attraction and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has huge elephant sculptures and other carvings that are crafted by hand which becomes spectacular sight.

Facts of Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

Some quick facts about the Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

The caves were discovered by John Smith in 1819, a British officer of the 28^th Cavalry for the Madras Presidency.
Ajanta Caves were sponsored majorly by the donations from the Satvahana dynasty in the Hinayana phase and the Vakataka dynasty in the Mahayana phase. Ellora caves were built during the rule of Kalachuri, the Chalukya, and the Rashtrakuta dynasties.
There are ancient paintings in Ajanta caves which are as old as the 3^rd century from Satavahana times.

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Suggested Tour

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Indiator

Indiator is a Noida based travel company pioneered in providing tour packages and airport transfer service in India. The offered tour packages range from Honeymoon, Excursion, multi-day, group tour, etc. Its 24/7 service availability and instant booking confirmation is highly appreciated.