Ellora Caves of Aurangabad

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am dedicating two posts to my trip to Aurangabad. On the second day we visited the Daulatabad Fort - which was absolutely magnificent - as well as the Ellora caves. The Daulatabad Fort was occupied by various kings throughout history. It is known for its' impenetrable walls and great protection. Not only are the walls extremely thick, but the fort has many posts for canon's and for men with artillery to hide. It also has very narrow passages and various  fake doors to confuse intruders. It was quite interesting walking through it and imagining how hard of a time intruders would have had going through this fort. It also had a beautiful mosque located inside of it, that was occupied by a Hindu woman placing bindi's on people's heads. It was quite a trek exploring this fort. Towards the end, many of the students wanted to climb up to the top of the mountain, but I returned to the bus because climbing up to one of the highest peaks in the area, in 100 degree weather, isn't really my type of fun at 10AM. 

After finally ensuring that all the students were alive and present, we drove to the Ellora caves. I thought they were going to be very similar to the Ajanta caves that we had seen the previous day, but they were significantly different. Unlike the Ajanta caves, Ellora caves were made by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. It baffles me how these three religions managed to abide peacefully by each other in these caves. Because we had to go to the airport in the early evening, we didn't have too much time to explore the Ellora caves, but we did go cave #16, The Kailasa Temple. 

Words or pictures cannot describe this World Heritage Site. It is absolutely huge in size, and all of the walls are beautifully decorated with detailed sculptures of Hindu gods. This temple was built to honor Shiva, the destroyer (the god that will eventually come down and destroy our world). It took about 100 years to finally complete this temple. I just don't understand how these people were able to create something so huge. Building a 29 meter structure without any modern-day technology can be a little difficult, no? I'm just so glad I was able to go and see this greatness for myself. Aurangabad surpassed all of my assumptions, and I will never forget my trip and experiences there. 

Emalisa xo

Daulatabad Fort. The walls of this fort are known to have been pretty much impenetrable.  

There were many sections to the fort. If the intruders made it through the obstacles in front of the fort, they were then faced with these area containing fake doorways and canons. 

The way that it was built, meant that you never really knew if you were taking the correct path somewhere. Many paths led to dead ends.

The Dautalabad Chand Minar. Second highest tower in India (64m high). Was built to commemorate the recapturing of this city.

In the fort, there was also a beautiful mosque. 

Posing next to the Chini Mahla, meaning "Chinese Place". No one knows why it was names Chinese because the Chinese never came to Aurangabad. It was also used as a prison. 

Feeling like i'm on top of the world!

Outside the fort there was a small market selling the most brightly colored guava's I have ever seen! Isn't that color gorgeous?

The Chand Minar from a distance.

Outside of the Ellora caves, we were greeted by these adorable monkeys. Several students took pictures with them, but I opted not to catch diseases. 

Ellora caves.

The most famous, Ellora cave number 16, Kailasa Temple. This is a Hindu cave.

There were many gods and goddesses portrayed along the walls. These are the Hindu gods of love (I believe), sharing a sugar cane to represent how sweet love is.

I think this is Shiva, the destroyer's wife, fighting a buffalo/human. The details escape me sometimes.

Absolutely magnificent.

One of the phenomenon's around this place is the fact that the architecture still stands. Note the 10 feet of rock that is over the covered area. 

Just to emphasize how massive it al was.

I cannot understand how someone thought to do all of this in a mountain.

About 70% of the group!

We then decided to climb all the way to the top to get some better pictures of this temple. I have a fear of heights, and so I don't know how I actually did this. Looking back at these pictures scares me so much!!

They literally built a temple inside a mountain. 

Looking back, I probably am too close to the edge of this rock, haha.