Teaching in India: Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad

The Ajanta and Ellora caves of India are truly one of the great wonders of the world. I would make this trip any day over going to the Taj Mahal. The Ajanta caves were excavated from a mountainside nearly 2,000 years old. Each of the approximately 30 caves is filled with frescoes telling the story of Buddha's life. The carvings and sculptures are breathtaking, and inspired by their faith of Buddhism..


My favorite Buddha chapel

The caves were carved out of a mountain side with nothing more than a hammer and a chisel.


Visiting monks at one of the stupas.

A stupa was typically a domed enclosure that housed a tooth or other relic of the Buddha.

Young monk

25 foot long sleeping Buddha

Fresco of a sacred white elephant

The frescoes of Ajanta are some of the most intact and unharmed I have ever seen, especially when you consider how old they are. It is amazing to me that tourists can walk right up to them (not touch, of course) and take pictures (no flashes). The Ajanta caves were concealed by rockfalls until the early 1800's. A British hunting group followed a tiger into one of the caves. VOILA!


Each hand gesture has a special meaning.

Need a ride?

For those with weak knees/bad backs a ride in a chair carried by 4 porters can be had for 800rs ($14.00!). Kris really wanted a ride but Rick gave her such a hard time that she waited till the end of the hike for the picture.

Ellora caves

The Ellora caves are "younger" than the Ajanta caves, about 700AD. They were created over many years and are comprised of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples.

Just another elephant

Elephants, elephants, everywhere


Elephant with trunk around a lion

I was in elephant heaven! I gave up counting how many there were. In these Hindu caves, people came and worshiped and lived up until about 40 years ago.