Ajantha-Ellora

The world famous rock-cut caves or temples of ellora is about 26 kms from aurangabad, and is dedicated to jainism,buddhism and hinduism...you can find halls or chaithyas and viharas or monastries of buddhists, constucted during the 5th and 11th century a.d...cave no.1,the kailasa temple is the largest monolithic structure in the world..there are no words to describe the magnificient sculptures of bodhisatwa,(buddha), the 2 storyed buildings...etc. On way to ellora,u can visit,the thuglakabad fort ,where u see big entrance gate, huge fortified walls,chandminar,2nd after kuthab minar in ht, built by rajaput kings in 11th certury, later occupied by muhammed-bin- thuglak,who became famous in history by changing his capital from delhi to doulathabad and later back to delhi itself...On the way back, at khultabad, is the simple tomb of aurangazeb,....
Ajantas are about 66 kms from aurangabad, these rock cut caves are fomous for fresco painting (paints made out of natural colours - from the flowers,leaves,bark of trees etc) the paintings like padmapani,vajrapani,buddhas sculptures,and the work on beatiful ceilings are really wonderful.... .. In city, don't forget to watch the hisorical monuments lke.bibi- -ka- maqbara, built by aurangazeb,which is the replica of taj....In the city,the panchakki (water mill), the unique ancient instrument, dating back 17th century still in working condition and the source of water coming from kms.far falling on the blade like waterfall and make the heavy stone grinder rotate. .my last visit of aurangabad was 3 yrs back and while in maharashtra.i had been to these places 3 times ...still I like to vist again....