Wed, Apr 19: Aurangabad, Ajanta Caves

After breakfast we were picked up for our 2 ½ hour drive to the Ajanta Caves.  

The caves were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.  They were discovered by some British soldiers in 1819 while out on a tiger hunt.  The 30 caves are not really caves – they were carved right into the side of the mountain.  They are a series of temples and prayer rooms that were carved during a period dating from second century BC to the 4^th Century AD. 

We saw only about 6 or so of the caves as many were very similar.

The first cave (Cave 1) had many paintings on the walls and ceilings

The second cave (Cave 2) had beautiful ceiling designs ...

and column carvings.

One cave (Cave 4) had the ceiling collapse during the carving and it was never completed .  However, it did have a very nice Buddha in a niche and some other carvings.

One cave (Cave 5) was only barely started before it was abandoned but it allowed one to see how the excavation and carving was done.  It had a porch and door and only a few feet dug out from the door.

Cave number 10 is believed the oldest of the caves.

Cave number 19 is referred to as the Sanctuary and has a very high "vaulted" ceiling that looked like wood but was really made of carved rock.

Upon returning to the visitor center we had a light lunch and ice cream bars from a vendor.  The temperatures have been very hot all day with a high of about 42°C or 107.6 °F…really hot.  Hence the ice cream.  We then headed out for the 2 ½ hour return trip.

We settled into the room for a couple hours of rest before being picked up for dinner.  None of this eating hotel food…and all the restaurant meals have been great.