We went very early this morning to see the Ellora temple caves which were rather overwhelming. They are later than those we saw yesterday – seventh/eighth century or so. We can’t show you the unbelievable range and detail, but we’ll focus on two: the first is a Buddhist cave built before the second picture of a Hindu cave – the latter is just enormous and it’s incomprehensible how it was made (it would have taken ten generations to make it). Just imagine that all these caves were built out of the hillside from the top to the bottom, so that when you see the columns, remember that they were carved out of the stone from the top working down. Gob smacking! The third picture is a detail from the Hindu cave, and the fourth is taken from one of the Jain temples. There are at least 30 cave temples/monasteries to give you a sense of scale.
Ellora is amazing. I think it’s misleading to call them caves as they aren’t. I know everyone does but they are temples carved out of the rock as you say. A much more complicated, and, I agree, more mystifying achievement than painting on a wall (I did like Ajanta too)
You’re right – not caves at all but completely extraordinary carvings in solid rock – I still can’t quite get my head around it
Brings back great memories……photos really capture the feel
Completely astonishing place – the generations of people chipping away to create such marvels
You truly are having the most fascinating trip I could imagine!
Its been completely extraordinary – and today we seem to be going wine tasting…
There are renowned temples in Ethiopia – never been but seen film and photos – it would be interesting to know if they were built around the same time. Hard to see that there could be any inter-relationship but each an extraordinary phenomenon
Ellora and Ajanta are extraordinary places – such craft and beauty
Extraordinary! Or as you say ‘gobsmacking’!
I’ve never ever seen anything like this place – amazing
Amazing – particularly like the dancing girl caught in mid-air.
I too love the dancing figures – so lithe and gorgeous – there’s a male dancer ( not on the blog) carved from the back so you can see his lovely spine!
On a more prosaic note, how did the wine tasting go? I managed one decent glass of Mexican white in a restaurant and failed to find it again!
Well, we’ve been to 2 wineries so far, another one tomorrow – the Chandon place was v elegant and the fizz delicious. The other one was much smaller with a pretty good red wine – not much of a market in India though. We’ve been sticking to water and the occasional beer..