Aurangabad 13 | bellsandtrance's Blog

Subject: Aurangabad 13

After a leisurely morning at or fabulous hotel we left for the Ellora Caves. The drive was through a rather South African looking countryside - quite mountainous and treed, we gradually rose as we headed further on our journey.We drove past what is the second highest tower in India located near another fort that is built on top of a hill, where the sides of the hill have actually been excavated away to leave sheer vertical edges making it more difficult for the enemy to climb up to the fort. Back in the 14th century Aurangabad used to be the Capital of India! It is also called the City of Gates as it actually has 16 old gates from when the town was still fortified. The current population is some 1,5 million people.

At the Ellora Caves we started by looking at the caves built by followers of the Jain religion - and the "newest" of the caves from the 10th century. We then went to the huge temple carved by followers of the Hindi religion, from the 8th century, and finally we were at the Bhuddist temple that was created back in the 6th century. Many other "caves" are there too, like the caves carved as accommodation for the monks. A note to certain people, they say that if your ears are very long and big it's a sign of being a "mystical being" with much wisdom, just like Buddha. Good to know eh?

These ancient places are so amazing you cannot believe that they were made so long ago! The rock is chiseled away from the top of the mountainside downwards... And the detail of almost every surface is so intricate and well done. expressions of faces are so lifelike... Poses held by the bodies of the people or angels or demons are so natural looking... And the sheer scale of the work is quite breathtaking! You have to remember that as you stand there, looking at the amazing carved stone all around you, that every open area has been excavated! This used to be a solid mountainside and every bit of open space you see has been removed by hammer and chisel! At one point we climb up the mountainside along the outer edge of the excavations of the Hindi temple where you can stand on the edge and look down at the beautiful scene that has been carved from the mountainside - something amazing to see! All of this before the birth of Jesus, side note it is believed that Jesus Christ spent many years in a Buddhist monastery right here in India.

We return in the late afternoon and Garth and the kids go for a swim....sitting on the pool deck we are pampered so much that if we just blink twice we are attended to. Christmas Eve is a full on buffet and show with dancers in colorful garb and huge drums, the kids enjoy it so much.

I go off to reception later and try to explain to the staff about leaving some milk and cookies for Santa, it is Christmas Eve after all and we need to give them something.....after about half an hour of explaining they get it and the kids wake to a few gifts from the Indian Santa (the tree is in the lobby) It's the first time the hotel has ever had western kids over Christmas and they thoroughly,enjoy watching the four kids opening their few presents.
We spend the rest of the morning just chilling out. Later we leave to fly back to Mumbai.

Merry Christmas everyone, we hope you had a good day!
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