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 - 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.

TRAVEL THE WORLD, ELLORA CAVES NEAR AURANGABAD, INDIA

The 34 Ellora caves, near Aurangabad, are a World Heritage Site. The Hindu caves, where this photo was taken in 2007, date from 500 to 1,000 B.C. The carving is of Lord Shiva, one of the triumvirate of Hindu gods, the two others being Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva is commonly thought of as being associated with destruction, but this is incorrect. Instead, he is seen as being responsible for maintaining the balance in the cosmos between creation, dissolution and re-creation.

INDIA VACATION 2007

MORE INDIAN OCCUPATIONS

India likely has millions of small merchants, one reason for the government's resistance to the incursion of western retail chains. The man in the first photo above, a retailer of knives, is a typical proprietor of a small family-run business. His shop, tiny by western standards but adequate for his needs, is located on the main shopping street in the old city of Jodhpur. He was welcoming, not objecting in the slightest to having his children photographed.

The second photo above is of our tour guide at the Ellora caves near Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat. This man was the perfect guide, very knowledgeable and intelligent, but approachable, agreeable and patient. He took us by bus to the Ellora caves, the Baby Taj in Ahmedabad and two or three minor sites. The entire time with him was a pleasure.