TRAVEL THE WORLD - AURANGABAD, INDIA

ELLORA AND AJANTA CAVES

The Ellora and Ajanta caves are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ellora consists of 34 caves dating from the 5th to the 10th centuries. The carving is truly amazing. The Kailasa temple, for example, has been carved from one enormous rock.

At Ajanta, 29 caves depict the story of Bhuddism spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD. The caves were discovered accidentally by a British army officer in 1819.

Pictured in the photos from top to bottom are: 1) looking down on the caves from the appoach to Ajanta, 2) the Bhudda in Cave 10 at Ellora, and 3) tourists at the Kailasa temple at Ellora.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - AURANGABAD, INDIA

These 2007 photos were taken in front of and inside a Jain temple in Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Jainism is an ancient religion which regards every living thing as potentially divine and therefore to be protected. Jains seek to attain spiritual enlightenment through the practice of non-violence and through cultivating wisdom and self-control. Jainism is thought to have influenced Bhuddism and Hinduism in ancient times. The religion, which has between 10 and 12 million followers, is held in high esteem in India. Jain temples contain beautifully intricate stone carvings, and most towns have a Jain animal shelter. In the second photo above a man is making an offering in the temple.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - ELLORA CAVES, INDIA

In the foreground of this photo, taken in 2007, you can see the stone carved pillar that sits in front of the Kailash or Kailasanatha temple. These are part of the Ellora caves, a World Heritage Site located near Aurangabad. The Kailash temple is the world's largest structure which has been carved out of a single rock. The carving, undertaken in the 8th Century, began at the top of the temple and worked its way downwards using chisels. It is estimated that 200,000 tons of rock were removed.