AJANTA & ELLORA

In the center of north Maharashtra, a state which lies at the heart of India, is one of the most beautiful places of the Indian cultural heritage, the Ajanta and Ellora caves, which are classified as World Heritage sites. A massive detour on our journey down south, but which was really worth it. We were amazed by these ancient caves, by far one of the most incredible places we have seen in our lives. Ajanta is an absolutely majestic geological configuration. Carved into a huge cliff shaped like a horseshoe, the caves have something of troglodyte dwellings. Ajanta is composed of 29 Buddhist caves dating from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD, which were mainly monasteries and temples. Abandoned and forgotten during centuries, they were rediscovered by chance by the English in the early twentieth century. The caves of Ellora, dating from the 6th and 13th centuries AD, attest to a period of harmony between three great religions in India, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. A group of 34 caves accommodate Buddhas, Hindu temples (including the absolutely delirious and impressive Kailasha temple) and Jain temples with cave paintings and other beautifully preserved sculptures. There are clearly no words to describe what one feels in the presence of these immense stone sculptures, guardians of these places of faith, meditation and secular harmony.