A land of crisp hills and plains with a wide variety of exotic flora and fauna, India is a much favored tourist destination. The magnificent aspects of rich cultural heritage, ancient traditions and architecture in India call for much enthusiasm and adventure. This millennium destination is brimming with numerous scenic landscapes and highlights, which attract tourists from all across the globe. One such scintillating tourist attraction in India is the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. A visit to this splendid attraction leave the tourists awe struck and completely mesmerized.
The ancient repository of Indian architectural heritage, Ajanta and Ellora Caves is the world famous sites for the hand carved cave shrines cut out of rock. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, these caves boast of an extraordinary appeal and aura. The Ajanta and Ellora Caves, also known as the caves of Maharashtra have been home to monks of different religions including Hinduism as well as Buddhism and Jainism.
In all there are 34 caves at Ellora and 29 caves at Ajanta. The Ajanta caves lie deep in the semi-arid Sahayadri hills. These splendid caves have panels, which depict tales from the Jatakas dealing with several reincarnations of the Buddha. Ajanta caves are home to some of the magnetizing wall paintings, which comprise that of two great Bodhisattvas, Padmapani and Avalokiteshvara. On the other hand, Ellora caves boast of amazing wealth sculptor. Situated in the northwest of Aurangabad across the sides of basaltic hill, the 34 Ellora caves are finest specimens of cave temples. Ellora caves are crafted with elaborate facades and intricately aesthetic interiors, which hypnotize the sensibilities of the visitors.
A testimony to the Indian architectural excellence, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves have been honored the status of world heritage site to be preserved as an artistic legacy. Be it the paintings in the Ajanta caves or the sculpture of the Ellora caves, both fascinate the tourists equally. A visit to these magnificent sites induces a sense of discovery of the self and of the divine. Tourist visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves can be a part of the four days Ellora Ajanta Festival, which is held on a large scale at Soneri Mahal, also known as the Golden Palace. This historic site is reckoned as an architectural marvel in Aurangabad near Ellora. This festival is held every year in the last week of November. Several classical tours are organized all around the year, which take tourists to these world heritage sites. These classical India tours to Ajanta and Ellora Caves are personalized to meet the preferences, style and budget of the vacationers.
