Trip to Aurangabad.... Ajanta and Ellora Caves!!! 2 Days

There is always a break needed from the regular work. I don't say going to some other places offers a break. However, it creates the different atmosphere and thinking from the regular day-to-day activities.

This was a short trip to Aurangabad, where Ajanta and Ellora caves were the prime ones in the trip, annexed by "Bibi ka Maqbara", "Daulatabad Fort" and "Grineshwar Temple".

The entire trip was well planned by my friends. It was just a casual talk during Tea time in the office to one of my friends (as well as colleague) that "Why don't we plan for a Ajanta and Ellora caves?". Keeping this in mind, he and his roommates have come up with a very good  plan for the short trip and of-course well executed by 5 of us.

Day1: 

Ajanta Caves:

There were many caves in Ajanta where we could see "Buddha" statues in almost all the caves. He is made into different forms showing different postures mainly focused in the fingers and hands. 

The walls and ceiling of the caves were painted with so many paintings.

Ajanta Paintings

We were wondering what our ancestors tried to convey from these statues and paintings. 

There were so many guides who were explaining the details of the pictures and there is equal possibility of what ever being explained would be true or it would even be story coined by them.

Day 2:

Started with Daulatabad Fort:

Daulatabad Fort - Aurangabad

The steps of the fort was built randomly and were not uniform and of equal height. This was thought of initially during the built by the engineers. I assume that they could have made this for some known reasons only. On the whole, the fort made us to think about the engineers during then who has constructed the fort.

Ellora Caves:

Ellora Caves

The caves of Ellora is a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism mythologies. We would able to see the statues of Shiv, Devis and so many other Hindu mythology statues, Buddha and Mahavir's statues in different caves. There is more of artistic approach to the cave outside shrine. There were paintings on the caves.

But, we would see that none of the statues are of full shape. One or the other parts of every statues are broken. This could be due to the invasion of so many rulers into India and they might have specifically spoiled them.

Bibi ka Maqbara:

Bibi Ka Maqbara - Taj of Deccan

This looks similar to Taj Mahal and also known as Taj of Deccan. This was built almost during the same period when Taj Mahal was built. This was built for Aurangazheb's wife.

We visited Grineshwar temple also during the return in the Day2.

On the whole, the trip was really nice and it has become very memorable because of the active involvement of my friends as well.

I would write my thoughts about Ajanta and Ellora caves later...