The Buddhist caves

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India /Maharashtra /Aurangabad /Aurangabad

Sight Address : From Aurangabad Ellora is 30 km,The Buddhist caves, inside the Ellora Edit

Detail InformationEdit

The southernmost 12 caves are Buddhist viharas (monasteries), except Cave 10, which is a chaitya (assembly hall). While the earliest caves are simple, Caves 11 and 12 are more ambitious, and on par with the more impressive Hindu temples.
Cave 1, the simplest vihara, may have been a granary.
Cave 2 is notable for its ornate pillars and the imposing seated Buddha,which faces the setting sun.
Cave 3 and Cave 4 are unfinished and not well-(30km) preserved.
Cave 5 is the largest vihara in this group,at 18m wide and 36m long; the rows of stone benches hint that it may once have been an assembly hall.
Cave 6 is an ornate vihara with wonderful images of Tara, consort of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and of the Buddhist goddess of learning, Mahamayuri, looking remarkably similar to Saraswati, her Hindu equivalent.
Cave 7 is an unadorned hall, but from here you can pass through a doorway
Cave 8, the first cave in which the sanctum is detached from the rear wall.
Cave 9 is notable for its wonderfully carved fascia.
Cave 10 is the only chaitya in the Buddhist group and one of the fi nest in India. Its ceiling features ribs carved into the stonework;the grooves were once fitted with wooden panels. The balcony and upper gallery off er a closer view of the ceiling and a frieze depicting amorous couples. A decorative window gently illuminates an enormous figure of the teaching Buddha.
Cave 11, the Do Thal (Two Storey) Cave,is entered through its third basement level,not discovered until 1876.
Like Cave 12, it probably owes its size to competition with the more impressive Hindu caves of the same period.
Cave 12, the huge Tin Tal (Three Storey) Cave, is entered through a courtyard. The locked shrine on the top floor contains a large Buddha figure flanked by his seven previous incarnations. The walls are carved with relief pictures, like those in the Hindu caves.

The Buddhist Caves in Aurangabad

HistoryEdit

N.A.

Must SeeEdit

Must see

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon , Evening,

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

N.A.

Ticket Required : Yes Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : Rs.10

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : Rs.250

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : Rs. 25

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Hotel Kailash ; Ellora Caves, Auragabad District, Ellora 431102, India ; Ph/M – 02437 244 446 ; Food Serve – N.A.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : The taxi stand is next to the MSRTC bus stand; share jeeps also depart from here for destinations around Aurangabad. Expect to pay Rs.600 for a full-day tour in a rickshaw, or Rs.900 in a taxi.

Bus : MSRTC also operates an intra-city bus service called ‘Aurangabad City Bus’ which connects different parts of the city together along with connecting the city to its nearby suburbs. The bus system is even more complicated for those who do not speak the local Marathi language, which equates to just about every foreign visitor here. Your best bet is to ask someone in your hotel before you leave what bus you would need to take to get to your planned destination. If you can track down this bus and get on as well as let the driver know your destination, then buses here are very convenient and inexpensive at just a couple of rupees per trip.

Train : Aurangabad’s train station (Station Rd East) is not on a main line, but two heavily-booked trains, the Tapovan Express (2nd class/chair ₹102/338, 7½ hours, 2.35pm) and the Janshatabdi Express (2nd class/chair ₹127/420, 6½ hours, 6am) run direct to/from Mumbai. For Hyderabad (Secunderabad), take the Devagiri Express (sleeper/2AC ₹224/822, 10 hours,4.05am). To reach northern or eastern India,take a bus to Jalgaon and board a train there.

Air : Aurangabad Airport, popularly known as the Chikalthana airport is the main domestic airport here. It is situated 10 km east of the city. Both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have a daily flight to Mumbai (Bombay). The airport is 10km east of town. En route are the offices of Indian Airlines (2485241; Jalna Rd) and Jet Airways (2441392; Jalna Rd) There are daily flights to Delhi, with a stopover in Mumbai. Fares start from around Rs.1500. Taxis are available to and from airport.

Others : N.A.

Things to CarryEdit

Bring a torch with you to the Buddist caves as many of them are quite dark and lighting is poor.

Safety / WarningEdit

Eat safely (no street stall foods, no buffets, eat fruits/veg that can be peeled and well-cooked food, drink sealed bottled water). Use sun screen/mosquito repellent, put a hat and sunglasses on your child.Wear closed shoes, not sandals.