The Evidences of the Architectural Past of India

Intersesting afcts about Ajanta caves

Interesting & Fun Facts about Ajanta and Ellora Caves
•    These caves are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was done in the year 1983.
•    The Ajanta cave were discovered in the year 1819 by British Army's Officer in Madras Regiment
•    Ajanta caves are excavated in a horse shoe shaped rock surface.
•    The caves rises up to 76 m, overlooking the Waghora stream.
•    Ajanta caves were excavated between 2nd century and 6th century.
•    All the caves were connected to the stream with flight of stairs.
•    There are in total 30 excavations.
•    Out of the total, five caves are chaityagrihas (stupa monument halls) while the rest are viharas (monastic halls of residence).
•    With regard to date and style, the earliest excavations belong to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. This comprises of total five caves, i.e. 9 & 10, which are chaityagrihas while 8, 12, 13 & 15 A are viharas.
•    Ajanta caves date back to the pre-Christian era, with Cave 10 being the earliest, dating from the second century B.C.
•    Stupas are the object of worship in these caves.
•    The caves have been carved such that they look like wooden construction.
•    The second phase of cave construction is different from the earlier as it includes depiction of Buddha image, both in sculpture and painting.
•    The paintings in the caves also belong to two different phases. The fist phase paintings belong to 2nd century B.C. while the second phase paintings belong to 5th - 6th centuries A.D.
•    The main theme of paintings in the caves is the illustration of various Jataka stories and events from the life of Buddha.
•    The base surface of the paintings on walls and ceilings consisted of a rough layer of ferruginous earth mixed with rock-grit or sand, vegetable fibres, paddy husk, grass and other fibrous material of organic origin.
•    The second coat was of mud and ferruginous earth mixed with fine rock-powder or sand and fine fibrous vegetable material. This surface was finally worked with a thin coat of lime wash.
•    Over the lime washed surface, outlines were drawn boldly and spaces were filled with requisite colors in different shades and tones to achieve the effect of rounded and plastic volumes.
•    The colors and shades used were red and yellow ochre, terra verte, lime, kaolin, gypsum, lamp black and lapis lazuli.
•    The main binding material used in the paintings was glue. Thus, the paintings at Ajanta are not frescoes as they are painted with the help of a binding agent.

Interesting Facts about Ellora caves

Interesting & Fun Facts About Ellora Caves
•    Ellora caves are locally known as ‘Verul Leni’.
•    The Great Kailasa (Cave 16) at Ellora boasts of being the largest single monolithic excavation in the world.
•    Ellora caves have been hewn out of the volcanic basaltic formation of Maharashtra, known as ‘Deccan Trap’.
•    The caves are datable from circa 6th-7th century A.D. to 11th-12th century AD.
•    The hills that have served as the venue of Ellora caves form a part of the Sahyadri ranges of the Deccan. These ranges date back to Cretaceous era of the Geological time scale (about 65 million years ago).
•    There is inscriptional evidence related to Rashtrakuta Dynasty, on the back wall of the front mandapa of Cave 15.
•    The Great Kailasa (Cave 16) is attributed to Krishna I (c. 757-83 A.D.), the successor and uncle of Rashtrakuta Dantidurga.
•    Caves 1 to 10 and Cave 21 (Ramesvara) are generally attributed to the Kalachuris of Mahismati.
•    Brahmanical caves and two Buddhist caves (caves 11 and 12) are attributed to the Rashtrakuta times.
•    The style of execution and fragmentary inscriptions of the Jaina caves hint to their origin being post the reign of Rashtrakutas.
•    Ellora caves are open from sunrise to sunset all days of the week, except, Tuesday.
•    The Great Kailasa is a freestanding, multi-storied temple complex, built to resemble Mount Kailasa - the abode of Lord Shiva.
•    Dashavatara cave (Cave 15) at Ellora depicts the ten avataras of Lord Vishnu.
•    The entrance of Ramesvara cave (Cave 21) is adorned with figurines of River Goddesses - Ganga and Yamuna.
•    The design of Dhumar Lena (Cave 29) is similar to the cave temple on Elephanta Island, near Mumbai.
•    Buddhist caves mostly consist of viharas or monasteries, which include living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and other rooms.
•    Vishwakarma cave (Buddhist cave 10) is also known as "Carpenter's Cave" and houses a 15 foot statue of Buddha, seated in a preaching pose.
•    Amongst all Buddhist caves, the first nine (caves 1-9) are monasteries, while the last two - Do Tal (cave 11) and Tin Tal (cave 12) have three stories.
•    The Jain caves at Ellora stand adorned with exceptionally detailed art works.
•    Chhota Kailash (cave 30), Indra Sabha (cave 32) and Jagannath Sabha (cave 33) are the most remarkable Jain caves.
•    Ellora caves, in combination with Ajanta caves, have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.