Early this morning we set off directly for the Ajanta Caves. Concealed by the jungle growth of the Sahyadri Hills for centuries, the exquisite Ajanta Caves were rediscovered by John Smith of the 28th Madras Cavalry in 1819. Mr. Smith stumbled upon one of the caves while on a tiger hunting expedition! The Ajanta Caves span two historic periods, the first during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism (2nd – 1st century B.C.) in which Buddha was not represented in human form but only by symbols, such as the Wheel of Law or the Bodhi Tree. The second period spans the 5th – 6th century A.D., during the Mahayana phase of Buddhism and is characterized by more expressive artwork. The magnificent murals that decorate the inner walls of the caves, depict scenes from the Buddha’s life. The caves were once inhabited by monks, artists, and craftsmen who sought shelter here from monsoons. Artwork is in the form of carvings, friezes, latticework, and sculptures.

After a picnic lunch, we continue for two hours to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ellora Caves, the Deccan’s finest example of rock-cut architecture. Several religions are represented in Ellora’s 34 caves – 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and 5 Jain – a true testament to the knowledge exchange and tolerance that defined ancient India. The “caves” are actually a series of uninterrupted temples and monasteries carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.

The most awe-inspiring structure at Ellora is Kailasanatha Temple, the world’s largest monolithic sculpture. It is indeed awesome to behold an entire hillside carved into almost freestanding temples. Unlike the Ajanta Caves, the Ellora Caves were never lost and the Kailasa temple remained a fully functioning temple until the 19th century.

From Ellora, it is a scenic 45-minute drive to our hotel.