Early May on our trip to Auranganbad we did not just visit 1 set of caves, we did 2. About 2 hours drive north of Aurangabad are the Ajanta caves, a very impressive and spectacularly preserved set of 30 caves or so, over 2000 years old. The caves are all Buddhist caves and have been well preserved as due to their location, and stories of the location being haunted they remained undiscovered for centuries. The location of the Caves on a south facing rock wall makes it much much hotter to visit then Ellora. The caves are closer together but more steps and climbing is involved to see them.
Coffee break on the road to the caves
After the initial climb up the hill, after the 2 hr drive, the 10 min bus hop on a too crowded buss and making it through the hawk stalls in 1 piece. This better be worth it! (with our guide Mr Ali)
10 min later - happy again!
but that sun was crazy!
The whole series more or less
Don't underestimate the scale of the place
If not too interested in the caves there are other things to entertain oneself with:
Some of the caves still had a significant proportion of the elaborate paintwork. Due to preservation hard to photograph well without flash. Most paint work was in full color.
Not all entirely suitable for kids -:)
Other then painting there were a lot of baud's everywhere. Sleeping Buda Buda, Buda Kaatje & Buda Mama
Buda Rick did his impersonation even better
Buda Kees, with one of the Stupa centered temples
the cave floors are soooo nice & cool!
Rick trying to copy some of the 'moves' and poses of the statues
recuperating in the shade
The whole row from the end looking back
Zen Duuk & Mama
Carriers could be hired to take you around in case you where not fit enough to walk yourself. They offered to take our kids, but as we already don't like how much everyone touches them we came prepared to carry them ourselves. I was looking on envious at the orange 'porter' jackets though. Thought I deserved one too!
Another hot but fabulous day - what a place - magnificent! The 2 hour drive back to the hotel & its pool turned into nap & cool down time.
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