Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad

Aurangabad district in Maharashtra State is a famous place with many tourist attractions and religious sites as well as temples. The Ajanta Caves are one of the most popular and most visited places in Aurangabad district with an extravagant monument. Having 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves that have existed since 2^nd century, these caves are exquisite structure that includes sculptures and paintings. They are a great example of the richness of Indian art and painting. These caves are also masterpiece of the Buddhist religious art and have figures of Buddha and depictions of mythological Jataka tales. The architecture of the Ajanta caves is worth witnessing and the caves are cut in the side of a large cliff which is the south side of U-shaped gorge on the river Waghur. They are along the modern pathway that runs across the cliff and were originally reached by the individual ladders from side of river 10–35 m below. The Ajanta caves have been built extravagantly in two phases and the construction started by the 2^nd century BCE. The second group of these caves was built in 400–650 BCE. This is a protected monument and is cared by the Archaeological Survey of India. The site has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History and Legend of Ajanta Caves

• This region was previously forested heavily and the caves were hidden in the heavy forests that were later discovered by a British officer in 1819. The buildings are Buddhist monastic that represent many monasteries. These caves have been numbered from 1 to 28 and some of these are unfinished but some have been barely begun. Many of these caves were hidden under the rubble and round the gorge, there are numerous waterfalls and these are audible when the river is high that are audible from outside these caves.
• These caves have the best of the early Indian wall-paintings and there are not many such survivals from areas of the modern Indian region and they are believed to be related to approx. 5^th century paintings in the Sigiriya region in Sri Lanka. Ajanta Caves have elaborated architectural carvings that are considered rare.
• A little after being rediscovered, the caves became famous due to their exotic setting and the impressive architecture and also due to the unique paintings. These caves were originally in the territory of princely state of Nizam of Hyderabad and Ghulam Yazdani who was the founder of the archaeology department of Hyderabad State in 1914 had played a major role to conserve and research this site. He had also published series of monographs on the caves. This site was considered adventurous till the Nizam’s government had built a modern path in between these caves among the many other efforts that had been made in order to make the site an easy visit.

Significance of the site and the Ajanta Caves

• The site boasts of the best mural paintings in the country that have survived from earlier and later caves. The paintings also include court-led paintings that are well preserved. Some of the later paintings also concentrate on the Jataka tales that show the previous lives of Buddha as king. These paintings have since deteriorated significantly and a majority of these caves are the vihara halls that were used for prayer and also for living. Such caves are also called as monasteries. There are also some other plainer rooms that were used for sleeping and also for other activities.
• The earlier caves have been built on eastern end of these horse-shoe shaped regions, and now the caves are in less prominent position. Ajanta Caves have been fully inaugurated that are important for the worship by the devotees of Lord Buddha that has an image in central shrine. The cliff of the first cave has steeper slope than other caves and this provides it a tall and a grand facade. Some caves only have left remains as the fine carving have been carelessly thrown down into the slope into the river but some have still been lost and they may have been presumably carried away in the monsoon torrents.
• The carvings on the cave are surfaces embellishments and have scenes from life of Buddha along with decorative motifs. There also is a two pillared portico and the cave also has a front-court along with porch that has simple cells on its both ends. Most areas of these porches had been once covered with the murals and some fragments remain on the ceiling of the cave. On the rear wall to the house, a shrine has been carved with an impressive and elaborate seated image of Buddha and his hands have been made in dharmachakrapravartana mudra.
• The temple has four cells that are located on all the walls and these have paintings that are in fair state in terms of preservation. The paintings depict mainly didactic, ornamental, and devotional scenes that are from Jataka stories that date back to Buddha’s former existence when he was a bodhisattva. The paintings have depicted life of Gautama Buddha and also of his veneration. The caves have two famous individually painted images and also life size figures of bodhisattvas that are Padmapani and Vajrapani that are placed on either side of entrance to Buddha shrine.
• The paintings are on every surface of these caves except the floor but the art work has eroded in some places due to decay and also due to human interference. Many areas thus are painted walls, pillars, ceilings that are fragmentary. The narratives of the paintings are mostly based on the Jataka tales that are depicted on the walls. The paintings inform the community mainly of the teachings of the Buddha and of his life through the successive rebirths.
• Some of the caves have also been saved from volcanic eruptions and thus still contain some major volcanic remains that also increase the attraction and significance of the site. This is today the most popular and most visited tourist destination in the Maharashtra state and is extremely crowded at the time of holiday. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation had in 2012 announced their plans to add this site to ASI visitor centre. They are also trying to get a better idea of these paintings and decipher them.

Ajanta Caves Timings

Ajanta Caves are open on all days except Tuesday and are open till sunset. The entry fees per person is Rs. 10/- and Rs 25./- are charged for clicking pictures and videography inside the caves.

How to reach by Rail Road and Air

Aurangabad is one of the most popular tourist hubs and thus has many visitors especially in the holiday season. The past glory and heritage of this city are the main attractions of Aurangabad. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are a major tourist attraction of the city and these caves are recognized as world heritage by UNESCO. Some other places to visit are the spectacular Mughal monuments, Bibi ka Maqbara and many other sites are extremely enjoyable in the city.

The caves also have a dedicated archaeological museum that is also a well noted tourist spot in the city. This place also has many historical and cultural places. The city has many ways to be reached and can be reached through multiple means of transport. Aurangabad is well connected by all major means like air, rail and road as per the tourist’s convenience. The city’s airport connects to all major cities and traveling to this city through air can be a very comfortable option while one can also travel by rail to the city.

By Air: Aurangabad has regular flights from all other major cities of the country and the major airport is the Chikkalthana Airport.

By Rail: Aurangabad is also well connected to all other major cities of India via regular trains. The major stations are Aurangabad, Rotegaon, Chikalthan, Mukundwadi Halt.

By Bus: One can get regular buses to the Aurangabad city from all other major cities of the country. The major bus station is Aurangabad.

The city is well connected and has efficient connectivity by all means of transport to various cities. There are a number of buses connecting Aurangabad to other cities and the journey is a comfortable one.

Hotels in Aurangabad

There are many 3, 4, and 5-Star hotels in Aurangabad that are extremely comfortable and have great services. The major hotels in the city include Hotel Atithi, Lemon Tree Hotel Aurangabad, VITS Hotel, Green Olive, Vivanta by Taj Hotel Oberoi and J P International. All the above hotels are extremely spacious and comfortable with all facilities. The tourists visit Ajanta caves and museums mostly in the holiday season and that is when the hotels are jam packed.

Nearby Attractions and Temples

The major attractions of the city of Aurangabad apart from the Ajanta and Ellora Caves are as follows:

Bibi Ka Maqbara: The place is situated about 3kms from the main city and is the resting place of Aurangzeb’s wife, Rabia-ud-Durrani. This place is an imitation of Taj Mahal, Agra. The burial site or the Maqbara is situated in middle of spacious Mughal garden that has axial ponds and fountains along with broad pathways and clean pavilions.

Panchakki: The 17^th century water mill is situated at distance of about 1km from city. The water mill is famous for the vast underground water channel that traverses about 8kms. The mesmerizing artificial waterfall and beautiful water fountains increase the beauty of the place and thus is one of the most visited sites of the city.

Gates in Aurangabad: The most interesting place to visit in the city is the 52 ‘gates’; they have a local history and are visited most often. The historical gates increase the legend of the place and thus are one of the most visited sites of the city.

Naukhanda palace: Built by Malik Ambar, the massive portal gateway is a grand palace in the city with nine apartments. The interior buildings have five zananas, a Divan-i-Aam, a Divan-i-Khas, a masjid and a kacheri and each of this is provided with a garden and also with a cistern.

Salim Ali Lake & Bird Sanctuary: The Salim Ali Sarovar which is popularly known as the Salim Ali Talab, is a major place of interest that is located near Delhi Gate right opposite the Himayat Bagh in Aurangabad. The site is located in northern part of the city and was known as the Khiziri Talab during Mughal Period. The place was renamed after the well known ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali. The site also has a bird sanctuary and also a garden that is well maintained by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.

Aurangabad Caves: The caves are situated at a distance of 5kms, and are nestled amidst the hills. These 12 Buddhist caves date back to 3 A.D. and are of particular interest as there are Tantric influences that are evident in the iconography and also in the architectural designs of these caves. The caves also offer a panoramic view of the whole city as well as of the imposing Maqbara.

Aurangabad has always been held as a town of great importance due to the history and legend associated with it. The popular tourist destination in the country has a lot to offer to the visitors. The town holds major significance in terms of history as well as mythology and is an important Buddhist site. The place has a lot to offer to the tourists and they back a lot in term of spiritualism as well as heritage and thus they keep coming back to experience the utmost enjoyment.

People have been visiting various places to pay their respects to various deities across the world. Tourism has been redefined once again through religious purposes.  By the Biblical period, these vital religious centers serve not only an essential constituent of the cultural landscape but have also become major players in local marketing too. Religious travel and tourism have become an important aspect of the industry and all major travel organizations are offering comprehensive packages to clients as well. In the contemporary world, the tourism market has expanded significantly and hence it includes sub-niches that range from luxurious travel plans to backpacking and from religious institutional travel to volunteer-oriented experiences. Traveling on a pilgrimage does not merely refer to visiting a particular destination, but it is also coupled with a humanitarian cause. While people may go to a particular place to worship a specific deity, the travel also has additional attractions. Jejuri is a city in Maharashtra that comes under the Pune district. It is famous for being the abode of Lord Khandoba. This town is popular for being the home to one of the most sacred temples in the state and hence this place is also called as the Khandobachi Jejuri. The Khandoba Temple is situated in the Jejuri town which lies in the south-eastern region of Pune. It is a very popular temple which stands favorite among the tourists for not only its brilliant architecture but also for the legends that are associated with this sacred place of worship.

History and Legend of Khandoba Temple

• According to the legends, the story starts with Aurangzeb attacking the sanctuary amid one of his crusades when he conquered another fort named the Daulat Mangal Fort which is close to this spot. He saw the Jejuri fortress (which was enclosing the sanctuary) post conquering the Daulat Mangal fort. He wanted to conquer the Jejuri Fort too and therefore reached with his armed force to this fort. However, he found that the strong doors were shut. So he needed to break the walls of the fort in order to invade. He then requested to make a hole in the wall by putting an explosive precisely at the spot where the Savalaksha Bhunga lies now.
• At this time, there a large swarm of bees appeared from the hole in quick succession. These honey bees attacked the armed force of Aurangzeb with loud noise by covering every warrior’s body. So the soldiers informed this to Aurangzeb who was completely paralyzed. At this time, a Hindu soldier informed him about the power of Lord Khandoba who is ever watchful to protect his fans. He then recommended that by showing up before the Lord is the only way to resolve the problem. So, Aurangzeb made an offering of One Lakh and a quarter coins to God Khandoba. At the point when the offering was made, the honey bees vanished soon. So Aurangzeb did not know how it happened, but rather understood that God was so intense that he had to bow down before Khandoba.
• Jejuri has additionally been a truly imperative spot as Shivaji met his dad Shahaji here after a long stretch. The meeting is actually very important as both of them talked about the methodologies that can be used against the Mughals. At that period, Jejuri was one of the major hill forts in the southern region.

Significance of the Khandoba Temple

• Khandoba otherwise known as Khanderao, Khanderaya, Malhari Martand and Mallu Khan is a territorial Hindu divinity, revered as Martanda Bhairava, a type of Shiva, mostly in the Deccan level of India.
• The worship of Khandoba started during the 9th and 10th centuries from a folk deity into a composite of God having the qualities of Shiva, Bhairava, Surya and Karttikeya Skanda. He is defined either as a Lingam or as a picture riding a bull or a horse.
• The temple of Khandoba at Jejuri has been built on the top of a small hill. A devotee needs to climb almost 200 steps to reach this holy place.
• It is considered to be among one of the important Gods who is more significantly worshiped by Dhangar, the oldest tribes in Maharashtra.
• Moreover, the pilgrims believe that the Lord Khandoba is also the God of Sakamabhakti i.e. the God who fulfills all the desires of his devotees.
• The competition of handling the sword on Dussera Day is very popular at Jejuri because the participants have to lift the sword high for the maximum time.
• One can without much difficulty, see the view of Saswad and Dive Ghat if the climate stands suitable. The pilgrims can enjoy the number of “Deep Mala “( Light Stands of Stones ) while climbing the slope. Jejuri is truly well known for its old Deep Mala. The sanctuary over the slope is beautiful. Despite the fact that it is a simple temple, yet it still looks lovely. The sanctuary can be partitioned into Mandap and Gabhara. The two bells and icons in the sanctuary are gorgeous.
• The idol of the Khandoba shrine stands equally amazing. There are various weapons like sword, damaru and paral which are historically important. People visit Jejuri to see the crystal stands too.
• Some of the common terms include ‘Khandobacha Yelkot’ and ‘Jay Malhar’. There are many sculptures situated in and around this sacred place of worship.

Khandoba Temple Timings

• The temple remains open for its devotees from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M.
• Devotees can offer prayers at all days in a week.

Khandoba Temple Food Timings

• The temple offers Prasad to the devotees after 2 P.M.
• Pilgrims can also offer Prasad to the deity in the form of fruits and dry sweets.

Festivals celebrated at the Khandoba Temple

• On Dussera, an annual festival is organized on a large scale. Khandoba Palanquin procession is the main event during this occasion. This is carried from the Kadepathar cliff to the main shrine. After the procession, nearly at dawn, a 30 feet Ravanimage is burnt. A fire cracker show is organized and the experience it provides is one of its kinds.
• Mahasivaratri is another event that is celebrated with pomp by the devotees. Pilgrims gather in the temple since early morning and offer pooja to the Lord. People worship throughout the night and sadhus chant hymns.
• Some other festivals that are observed in this temple include Ram Navami, Diwali etc.

Poojas and Rituals of Khandoba Temple

• Abhishek is performed on the Swayambhu Linga in the early morning at 5 A.M.
• The Lord is offered garlands, incense sticks, Bilva leaves, sweets, and fruits. Lamps are lit and the Shiva mantra “OM Namah Shivaya” is recited.
• When a devotee offers milk or water to the Shivalinga, it flows in a particular direction. This sacred water should not be crossed.

How to Reach: Road, Rail, and Air

• By Air- Traveling by air is considered to be the best option for people who want to travel in less time. For such travelers, the Pune Airport is the nearest airport in order to reach the Khandoba Temple. There are cab services available from the airport for commuters.
• By Train- Railways is the backbone when it comes to Indian mode of transportation. Every day there are numerous passengers who travel by train. And, Jejuri can also be reached from any location in India. There are many express and passenger trains that halt at the Jejuri Railway Station. From there, one can hire a taxi or opt for a bus to reach the auspicious temple.
• By Road- For people who love to travel by roads, the Khandoba Temple is easily connected with all the national and state highways. Driving is approx 200 km from Mumbai to Jejuri road. While driving, it is vital that you take the Pune Expressway (drive approx 110km on Expressway) exit to Mumbai Pune Bypass road (drive approx 40km keeping right) then turn left to Angraj road ending in Jejuri road.

Hotels in Maharashtra: Where to stay

There are various kinds of accommodation available for tourists who visit the state of Maharashtra. From luxurious to budget hotels, there are many options for the travelers. The rent of the rooms depends on the one selects. The rooms are generally well furnished and equipped with all modern facilities. Some hotels even have private balconies for guests to retire. It is always advisable to book your hotels in advance if you plan to reside near the Khandoba Temple. There are not many hotels available in that region. For people who love pampering, choose your accommodation that provides personalized spa services. In general, all the leading hotels offer pickup and drop services to the airports and major railway stations for their clients.

Where to eat

Maharashtra cuisine is generally spicy in nature. People in this region prefer vegetarian food but all the international restaurants offer nonvegetarian eating options as well. Some breakfast options that are relished by both the tourists and the natives alike include poha, upma, samosa, and jalebi. Vada pav and Misal pav are distinct to this region. For a more comprehensive meal as lunch, one can either order separate dishes or opt for a Thali system. A Thali basically refers to a complete meal which comprises of rice, roti, dal, vegetables, pickle, dahi, salad and a sweet. And individuals who would prefer to opt for fine dining; there are many leading restaurants that offer international cuisines at a competitive price range. From Mexican to Thai and Italian, there are assortments of options for people who love to gorge on unique dishes every time.

Nearby Temples

• Aangameshwar Mandir- It is a perfect destination for people who want to plan a pilgrimage tour with your dear ones. World standards, extraordinary architecture, innovative layouts, and well-thought execution make the place a highly coveted point of tourist interest. This temple at Saswad is quite popular among the devotees.
• The Yamai Devi Temple- Itis situated in a hill complex at Pune in Maharashtra. The top of the hill can either be reached by using the steps that begin at the bottom of the hill or by car utilizing a somewhat unsafe road. The icon of Devi Mahishasur Mardini Yamai in black stone is almost around 2 meters high and is in a cross-legged sitting position. The sanctuary is the family place of worship for countless families. The highest point of the sanctuary has pictures and icons of different Hindu gods.
• Vithal Rakhumai Temple- It is the fundamental center of worship for Vitthal, accepted to be a form of Bhagwan Krishna or Vishnu and his consort Rakhumai. It is the most visited sanctuary in Maharashtra. The Warkaris begin walking from their homes to the sanctuary of Pandharpur in gatherings called Dindi to reach on Aashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi. A dip in the holy river of Chandrabhaga on whose banks Pandharpur lives is believed to wash away all the sins of the devotees. All the devotees are permitted to touch the feet of the idol of Vithoba.
• Rokdoba Hanuman Mandir- It is a famous and popular temple that is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Pilgrims who visit the Khandoba Temple definitely pays a tribute to this shrine as well. It serves as a prominent sightseeing attraction and there is also a Lord Rama temple located nearby this temple. Although visitors throng the temple all around the year but it is during special occasions like Ram Navami and Dussera that the numbers go up. People stand in the queue to offer pooja and seek blessings of the Almighty. There are special poojas that are performed in this temple during that time. The temple remains open on all days in a week.