Ajanta Caves of Aurangabad

I'm so sorry that I have not posted in a couple of days, but I have just been completely swamped with my actual coursework for this Study Abroad, as well as visits to advertising and marketing agencies. On Wednesday afternoon though, the group traveled to Aurangabad to visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves. These are world-famous caves that were built by ancient Buddhist monks as temples and as living quarters. In about 200 AD, monks went to a mountain trying to escape the monsoon rains and began making caves in the mountain. It is absolutely breath-taking how detailed and beautiful they made these caves. Because some of the caves are also temples, the walls and the ceilings are painted with either fruits and symbols, or with Buddhist stories. There are also sculptures of the Buddhist gods all over the caves.

Aurangabad is located in the same state as Mumbai - Maharashtra. It was about a 45 minute flight east, meaning that we were getting away from the never-ending rain (which I was extremely excited about). Immediately upon arrival I could sense how different Aurangabad is from Mumbai. While walking to the bus from the airplane I couldn't smell all the familiar smells of Mumbai, and I couldn't hear all the honking. Also, the drive to the hotel wasn't littered with traffic and people attempting to cross the road. There are significantly less people in Aurangabad, but because it is mostly a Muslim city, it is a lot more conservative. We had been informed to always wear long pants and cover our shoulders while outside of the hotel. It was just so difficult because without the rain, the weather was actually very humid and hot. I really did enjoy Aurangabad because it is the type of city you imagine in your head when you picture India. I was very, very happy with our trip there. The fact that we stayed in a super luxurious hotel didn't hurt either...at all.

*Unfortunately I took too many pictures, so I am dedicating two blog posts for the two days we visited the Ajanta and Ellora caves. I am trying hard to limit the number of pictures I post, but I just feel like each picture tells its own story! Sorry!

Emalisa xo

Greeted by beautiful skies upon our arrival to Aurangabad.

Seemed like every airport we went to, we were greeted with these beautiful flowers. 

Our hotel was absolutely luxurious. Probably why our stay was only for two nights. 

It was all smiles before we found out how much climbing we were actually going to do.

Some of us chose to be carries up to the caves, haha. I was fine walking up there.

With the caves in the mountains in the background.

Inside, the caves were beautifully painted and decorated temples. Walls and ceilings were all decorated. 

The walls and ceilings of these caves were painted with Buddhist stories. 

Each cave was square in shape and design. Directly across from entry door, there was a small room with Shiva, the destroyer (I think).

Still find it difficult to understand how they were able to do this so long ago...

There were about 30 caves that the monks used as temples and living quarters along this mountain.

Posing in front of an elephant because #India.

There were many, many stairs between the caves, making it very difficult to get from one end to the other without having a complete work out. 

Cheesing at the Ajanta caves!

Pretty magnificent, huh?

This was an 18 foot long Buddha sleeping in one of the caves. This cave was obviously made as a temple because of this. 

There was also an 18 foot structure that is meant to be Buddha's tomb.

Tried to make some friends, but then I remembered what my doctor in the US told me, haha.

After the Ajanta caves we visited a place that makes silk scarves, and other custom apparel. 

Some sari's can take up to years to make; all the patterns are hand-sewn. 

Group picture, with our professor and all!