Ajanta and Ellora Caves – Rickshaw Challenge https://www.rickshawchallenge.com Pure Adventure! Mon, 04 May 2015 09:41:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 https://rickshawchallenge.gamblingzion.com/uploads/2019/08/cropped-RC-FB-no-background-32x32.png Ajanta and Ellora Caves – Rickshaw Challenge https://www.rickshawchallenge.com 32 32 9 Interesting Sites on the Deccan Plateau https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/2015/05/04/9-interesting-sites-on-the-deccan-plateau/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=9-interesting-sites-on-the-deccan-plateau Mon, 04 May 2015 09:41:23 +0000 https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/?p=13291 The Deccan Odyssey is on the horizon, starting in just a month and a bit, so to hype things up a bit we want to introduce the Deccan Plateau to you. This large stretch of land, taking up most of central and south India, lies between the Western and Eastern Ghats, the Nilgiri Hills in the south and Aravalli and Chota Nagpur hills in the north.
 

 
The plateau is vast, so of course the Rickshaw Challenge Deccan Odyssey won’t go through all of these places, but we do touch on them in the India’s Cup and the Rickshaw Challenge Mumbai Xpress as well!
 
The Ajanta and Ellora Caves
 
Photo by Yashasvi nagda

 
Both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves are some of India’s most remarkable monuments. Housing intricate friezes, frescoes and rock-carved temples dedicated to Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths, the Ajanta caves date back to the 2nd century BC to 6th century AD; it has 29 caves and is set in the stunning backdrop of a crescent shaped gorge. Ellora on the otherhand has 34 caves, with grand halls, monasteries and temples inside. These caves are slightly younger than Ajanta, dating back to 5th to 11th centuries AD. This is definitely going to be one of the biggest highlights on the upcoming Deccan Odyssey!
The Mini-Taj Mahal of Aurangabad
 
Photo by Arian Zwegers

 
Aurangabad might be used as a gateway to visit the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, but this city, named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, has plenty to offer.
The city has its own set of Buddhist cave temples dating back to the 6th and 7th century AD, but perhaps its most amazing is Bibi ka Maqbara, a monument that bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal. This white marbled building was built in the 17th century by Azam Shah for his mother, and is pretty spectacular, especially if you won’t get the time to go all the way up to Agra, this makes a pretty good consolation prize.

 
The Ruins of Hampi
 
Photo by Apadegal

 
At the centre of the Deccan Plateau in Karnataka, the enigmatic city of Hampi spreads out for miles on end, with ancient temples and palaces dotted between rocky boulders. This is another UNESCO Site that the Deccan Plateau can claim for itself. Hampi used to be the capital of the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar, which saw its hayday in the 14th to 16th centuries. Even today, Hampi is still a spectacular site for visitors. Hampi is one of our highlights on the India’s Cup Ambassador rally!
 
The Fort of Belgaum
 
Photo by Manjunath Doddamani Gajendragad

 
The town of Belgaum dates back to the 12th century AD to the Ratta dynasty. Belgaum was renowned for its trade in diamonds and wood in the past, but today it’s still a commercial hub of Karnataka state. Main features of this town, which is one of our stops on the Deccan Odyssey, is Belgaum Fort, built in the 13th century by Jaya Raya. The fort is perhaps most famed for Gandhi having been imprisoned by the British here. You’ll also find several religious monuments dedicated to Hindu, Jain and Muslim faiths inside as well.
 
The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad
 
Photo by Vamsi Varma

 
 Hyderabad is one of the most interesting cities in the Deccan Plateau. It has a Muslim majority and almost split to join Pakistan, had it not been in its geographic location in the south of India. Main sites include the famous Charminar at the centre of the old town, and Golconda Fort on the outskirts. Golconda is India’s second largest fort and a spectacular site in itself. You’ll also find the spectacular Qutb Shahi Tombs close to Golconda as well.
 
The Tea Fields of Ooty

 

 
Up in the Nilgiri Hills, the town of Ooty is known for its tea gardens and factories. A drive through the hills offers stunning views of bright green tea fields stretching down the mountainside. The tight hairpin bends would be a challenge by rickshaw, which is why we try to get the Ambassadors to tackle this route on the India’s Cup.
 
The Palaces of Mysore
 

 
Famed for its palaces, Mysore is a city in South India that can be thought of as a jewel in its own right. Mysore Palace is said to be India’s second most visited site after the Taj Mahal, and is a bright and gaudy example of indo-saracenic style. The palace echoes back to the era of the Maharajas, with its interior resembling a jewel more than a palace.
 
Pune’s Legacy
 
Photo by Mahurkartejas

 
Pune was once the seat of the Maratha Empire and grew under the ruler Shicajo and under the British Raj. The city today is India’s eighth largest metropolis in India and the state’s second largest city after Mumbai.
There is plenty to see and do in Pune, like the 8th century rock-cut Pataleshwar Cave Temple or the Aga Kahn Palace. Perhaps the most famous monument is the Red Palace, built in the 17th century and a bright red structure in the city.
 
The Gardens of Bangalore
 
Photo by Kprateek88

 
Bangalore, also known as the Garden City, is Karnataka’s capital and also the IT hub of India. It’s a city that had a complex history from the Vijayanagar Empire to the Mughals, the Wodeyars and to British India. Bangalore’s main attractions are the Vidhan Soudha – the Legislative Chambers of the state government – and Lal Bagh, 240 acres of gardens!

Are you crazy enough to come along for the ride? Then join us on the next Rickshaw Challenge. Then get a team together and lets see you at the starting line! If you want to join us in spirit, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or Instagram to keep up with our latest antics.
]]> The Caves of Ajanta and Ellora – India’s Forgotten Wonder https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/2014/06/20/the-caves-of-ajanta-and-ellora-indias-forgotten-wonder/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-caves-of-ajanta-and-ellora-indias-forgotten-wonder https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/2014/06/20/the-caves-of-ajanta-and-ellora-indias-forgotten-wonder/#respond Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:35:20 +0000 https://www.rickshawchallenge.com/?p=12269 Ellora and Ajanta
Intricately carved into the hillside in the middle of the Indian countryside in northern Maharastra, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves are some of India’s greatest architectural wonders and a must see for anyone traveling the area around Mumbai.
They have both been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and quite rightly so, especially when the caves at Ellora date back to 6th and 11th centuries AD, and the Ajanta caves even more so, having been constructed between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD.
The caves are vast, and merit an entire day’s visit, which is why our Deccan Odyssey run on the Rickshaw Challenge, which is currently taking place, spends a rest day in Aurangabad.
If you’re going to take a break from tooting your rickshaw, you might as well see something spectacular – and these caves won’t disappoint.

Ancient Ajanta

Ajanta is the older cave system, with the current caves dating as far back as the 2nd century BC. There are 29 caves cut into the volcanic rock found around the Deccan Plateau.
These caves are known for their carvings and sculptures depicting the life of Buddha. The artwork found in these ancient caves are said to mark the birth of classical Indian art.
But despite the artistic wonders of these caves, which once functioned as a monastic complex, they were abandoned in the 7th century AD due to Ellora’s increasing popularity.
The caves faded out of memory, until a British tiger-hunting party “rediscovered” Ajanta in the early 19th century. Now the caves house some of the best examples of Buddhist art.
It’s not just the art that make these caves worth the visit, but the horse-shoe bend of rock rising over 75m in height above the Waghora stream provides a spectacular sight.

Multi-religious Ellora

The Ellora Caves were all about tolerance and inclusiveness. With Buddhist, Hindu and Jain sanctuaries, people could practice the three religions side-by-side, which makes these caves a unique place in the Indian sub-continent.
There are over 600 monuments on the site, spread between 34 rock-cut monasteries and temples set into the walls of the high basalt cliff.
Like Ajanta, the caves are a masterpiece in themselves, both in architecture and artistic calibre, but they also illustrate a tolerant spirit that was characteristic in ancient India.
Out of the 34 structures, 12 were Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain, all of which were vertically excavated out of stone. These caves are also rich in art and habitation space along side their temples.

Getting there

The best way to visit is to join us on the Rickshaw Challenge for the Deccan Odyssey, but if you can’t wait till next year, or if you want to make a detour after taking part in our other runs, you can always do it yourself.
You can fly into Aurangabad, which is located about 15km from the caves. If you want the true Indian experience that is not on a rickshaw, then you can always take the train.
There are regular trains running from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and so on, so it’s not hard to make it to Aurangabad. Also, there are regular bus services to the caves from the city, so it’s easy to do.

Ellora and Ajanta

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