Tour at Udaipur City in Rajasthan

 UDAIPUR - Rajasthan Heritage

The city of Udaipur is a picturesque country surrounded by Azure Lake lakes that are dotted with lush Aravails.

A white vision tied to love and beauty, Udaipur is an attractive combination of visual sounds, and experience-inspired thought for poets, artists, and writers. also known as "Lake City", a city in the state of Rajasthan, India.

It is the historic capital of the state of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. It was founded in 1558 by Udai Singh II of the Rajodesian Rajput family while moving his capital from the city of Chittorgarh to Udaipur after Chittorgarh was besieged by Akbar.

It remained the capital until 1818 when it became the British monarchy, after which the state of Mewar became part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.

Buildings and palaces in Udaipur

Slideshow

Change image every 5 seconds:

1 / 5

City Palace

2 / 5

Fateh Prakash Palace

3 / 5

Lake Palace

4 / 5

Bangore ki Haweli

5 / 5

Maharana Pratap Monument

City Palace

City Palace passes Pichola Lake. Maharana Udai Singh started the palace's construction, but successive Maharanas added numerous palaces and structures to the structure, which still has a strong similarity to the original.

The entrance to the Palace comes from Hati Pol, at the Elephant Gate. Bari Pol or Great Gate brings you to Tripolia, the third gate. It was customary for the Maharana to weigh under the gate gold and silver, which was distributed to the people. It is now the main ticket office.

Fateh Prakash Palace:

It is like a collection of real royal luxury at Fateh Prakash Palace, the HRH's largest museum. The warmth of royal hospitality greets you as you walk down the corridors full of the great paintings of Mewar School which thrived in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries.

Lake Palace:

Lake Palace is situated on Jag Niwas Island, which spans 1.5 hectares in the middle of Pichola Lake. It was constructed as a summer palace by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1743 and is now a five-star hotel.

It is a magical palace and its image in the center of the lake resembles a straight leaf without a fairy tale of intricate art and ethnic themes that use fabrics and handicrafts everywhere highlighting the beauty beyond just comparing the surrounding lake making a spectacular murmur with its extravagant waves and spectacular moments.

Monuments and Havelis in Udaipur

Bagore-Ki Haveli:

This is an old mansion built directly on the shores of Lake Pichola in Gangori Ghat. Amir Chand Badwa, Prime Minister of Mewar was built in the eighteenth century.

The palace has over 100 rooms and is home to some of the most fascinating exhibits of modern clothing and art. The glass and mirror inside the interior have a subtle work of Haveli and are well maintained.

Maharana Pratap Monument:

A terrified bronze statue of Maharana Pratap and his beloved and loyal horse, which he vigorously defended by his master and stood by him until his final death, stood on the top of Moti Magri (Pearl Mount) facing Fateh Sagar.

The locals climbed the hill in the honor of Rana Pratap and his faithful charger 'Chetak', who was killed in the battle of Haldighati.

There are remnants of one of Udaipur's earliest forts are nearby, as well as a lovely Japanese stone garden.

JAG MANDIR

The Jag Mandir mansion is located on an island in Lake Pichola. Also known as the "Lake Garden Palace", it was built by three Maharanas of the kingdom of Mewar.

Construction began in 1551 and was completed in 1652. The royal family used the palace as a summer residence and a palace of joy.

Pratap Gaurav Kendra:

Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Tirtha is located in Tiger Hill. It was founded by the Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Samiti with the goal of providing knowledge on Maharana Pratap and the area's historical heritage via the use of contemporary technologies.

Gulab Bagh & Zoo:

Gulab Bagh is the largest territory in Udaipur, located in the heart of the city. It is well-known for a broad range of fields and attractions such as lakes, a library, a toy train, a zoo, temples, and the Arya Samaj religious center, as well as several government buildings.

Pratap Park:

Paratat Park is a field near the bank of Pichola Lake. It has an open gym and many other attractions. It found it attractive because of the alphabet-equivalent characters that read "I LOVE UDAIPUR", with a view of Lake Pichola and City Palace in the background.

Tour at Jaipur City in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, an Indian state, has its capital and largest city in Jaipur.

Jaipur is a tourist destination in India that, along with Delhi and Agra, is part of the Golden Triangle's western tourism sector (240 km, 149 mi).

It also serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan, such as Jodhpur (348 km), Jaisalmer (571 km, 355 mph), Udaipur (421 km, 262 mi), Kota (252 km, 156 mi), and Mount Abu (520 km, 323 mi). Jaipur is 616 kilometres away from Shimla.

Tourist attraction includes

Slideshow

Change image every 5 seconds:

1 / 4

Amber Fort

2 / 4

Hawa Mahal

3 / 4

Jaigarh Fort

4 / 4

Jantar Mantar

1) Amber Fort Jaipur

The Amar Fort, also known as the Amber Fort, is a fortress in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a 1.5-square-mile town located 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) from Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital. A magnificent palace made of red marble and marble is built on four levels, each with its own courtyard.

Contains the Diwan-e-Aam, or "Hall of Public Audience," the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience," the Sheesh Mahal (mirror in the palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas, where winds blow over the flow of water inside the palace to cool it. As a result, Amer Fort is also referred to as Amer Palace.

2) Hawaii Mahal

The Hawaiian Mahal (English: "Palace of Spirits" or "Breeze Palace") is a castle in Jaipur, India, about 200 miles [300 kilometres] from the capital Delhi. The palace, built of red and pink sandstone, sits on the outskirts of Jaipur's City Palace and extends to Zenana, or women's rooms.

After a 50-year hiatus, the Mahal rehabilitation work began in 2006 to provide for the memorial's refurbishment at a cost of approximately R4,568 million. The corporate sector has contributed to the preservation of Jaipur's historical monuments, and the Indian Trust Unit has welcomed the preservation of the Hawa Mahal.

The palace is an outgrowth of the larger structure. This typical visitor centre includes carved screens, small toilets, and an arched roof. Beautiful hanging models adorn the monument.

3) Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort is located on the Cheela of the Teela (Hill of Eagles) in the Aravalli range, overlooking Amer Fort and Lake Maota in Jaipur. The castle, which is large and structurally similar to Amer Fort, is also known as Victory Fort. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) long and 1 kilometres wide along the north-south shore (0.62 mi).

Inside the palace is a cannon known as "Jaivana" (Jaivana Cannon), which was made up of fortresses and was the largest cannon fired in the world at the time. Jaigarh Fort and Amer Fort are linked by underground corridors and are treated as a single complex.

4) Jantar Mantar

is a large triangular gnomon with a hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis used as an equinoctial sundial.

A circle quadrant, similar to the plane of the equator, can be found on the other side of the gnomon. This tool is intended to measure the time of day, the equivalent of a second, and the Sun's and other celestial bodies' reduction.

There were five Jantar Mantras in India, the largest of which was in Jaipur and included numerous metals as well as the world's largest stone sundial.

Because the Jantar Mantar in Mathura was demolished just before the 1857 uprising, there are currently only four Jantar Mantars available. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Vrihat Samrat Yantra is a sundial that is said to give local time with an accuracy of 2 seconds.

Slideshow

Change image every 3 seconds:

1 / 4

Albert Hall Museum

2 / 4

Jal Mahal

3 / 4

Galtaji

4 / 4

City Palace

5) City Palace

The City Palace in Jaipur was built at the same time as the city by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who moved his court from Amber to Jaipur.

The palace complex consists of several buildings, courtyards, galleries, restaurants, and offices, including the Museum Museum. The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust oversees the Museum and royal cenotaphs (known as chhatris).

 6) Galtaji:

a historic Hindu pilgrimage in Rajasthan, India, about 10 kilometres from Jaipur The site consists of a cluster of temples built in a tiny gap in the ring of hills that surrounds Jaipur.

The natural spring flows downhill from the hill's summit, filling a series of holy kunds (water ponds) where pilgrims wash.

Visitors and travellers can climb the crevasse and continue their journey across the high water to the mountain temple while admiring Jaipur and its palaces spread across the valley.

Santa Galav is said to have lived here, meditated, and repented (Tapasya).

7) Jal Mahal: -

(literally "Water Palace") is a palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan's provincial capital, located in the middle of Lake Man Sagar.

In the 18th century, Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber restored and expanded the palace and surrounding lake.

The Jal Mahal Palace is an example of Rajput style architecture (common in Rajasthan) on a large scale, from Mughal architecture, no Rajput art architecture exists in the same style before Mughal, including fort, city wall, the arch is a Mughal Islamic copy from Mughal.

The building has a beautiful view of the lake itself, but because it is separated from the land, it is also focused on the view from the Man Sagar Dam on the lake's east side, in front of the surrounding Nahargarh ("tiger habitat)" hills.

The palace is a five-story red stone structure with four floors that live underwater when the lake is full and the upper floor exposed.

On the roof, there is one rectangular Bengal Chhatri. Chhatris has four octagonal corners.

The palace had previously experienced a decline as well as split snow (plaster and wall damage caused by rising humidity) due to flooding, which was repaired under the Rajasthan Government's recovery project.

8) Albert Hall Museum:

is an old state museum in Rajasthan, India that now serves as a state museum. The structure is located outside the city wall in Ram Niwas' garden, opposite the New Gate, and is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The Government Central Museum is another name for it.

The structure was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, with assistance from Mir Tujumool Hoosein, and opened as a public museum in 1887. Maharaja Ram Singh intended the structure to be a city hall, but his successor, Masho Singh II, decided it should be a Jaipur art museum and incorporated it into the new Ram Nivas Garden.

Tour at Amboli hill Station in Maharashtra

 Monsoon offers the best of nature's natural resources including the lush green waterfalls of the year.

The good news is that picturesque hill stations such as Amboli and Toranmal are within a short distance from the bustling city. The nicest aspect of driving to these locations is that it frequently leads to a trail of many amazing discoveries.

Amboli is located on the southern side of the Sahyadri mountain at an altitude of 690 meters. The hill station is reportedly receiving heavy rainfall and is one of the wettest areas in Maharashtra.

The sea vista here gives a remarkable perspective of the land as far as the Konkan coast, although being wrapped in the missing roof due to the rains.

Places to visit:

1) Amboli Waterfalls:

 Amazing Amboli Waterfalls are located at the Amboli Hills station south of Maharashtra in India.

Amboli is located in the Sahyadri Hills in western India at an elevation of 690 feet [690 m] above sea level and is regarded as one of the world's eco-friendly regions since it is home to an endangered species.

Amboli Falls is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Amboli and is visited by many tourists throughout the year.

This the magnificent waterfall is surrounded by many other waterfalls and the sight of falling water and the surrounding greenery adds to the beauty and taste of the landscape.

While the beauty of the waterfalls will not be enjoyed all year round, the joy and the excitement of seeing this magical waterproof double, and couples, children, groups of friends, and families, have a wonderful time at Amboli Waterfalls

Amboli Falls is located just 3 miles from the main bus stop. The only local transportation available here is private cars and taxis, so you can get any of these to the waterfalls.

Parking is available on one side of the road, so you do not have to worry about taking your private car and parking problems.

2) Mahadevgad Fort:

Mahadevgad Fort is a historic fort located in the town of Amboli in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India. The fort is believed to have been built during the 12th century and was used by the Maratha Empire during their reign. The fort is situated on a hilltop and provides a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

The fort was originally built by the rulers of the Silhara dynasty and was later captured by the Maratha ruler Shivaji in the 17th century. The fort played an important role during the Maratha Empire's reign, as it served as a strategic point for the Maratha army.

Today, the Mahadevgad Fort is a popular tourist attraction in Amboli and is known for its stunning architecture and scenic beauty. Visitors can trek to the top of the hill and explore the fort's ruins, which include several temples, water tanks, and other structures. The fort is also a popular spot for watching the sunset and taking in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

 3) Shirgaonkar Point:

The point is situated at an altitude of around 600 meters above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and forests.

 To reach Shirgaonkar Point, one needs to trek through a dense forest for around 1.5 kilometers. The trek is moderately difficult and takes around 30-40 minutes to complete. However, the beautiful scenery along the way makes the trek worth it.

 Once you reach the point, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Konkan region, including the nearby villages and hills. The point is named after the Shirgaonkar family who donated the land to the government to develop it into a tourist spot.

 Overall, Shirgaonkar Point is a must-visit attraction in Amboli for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

4) Hiranyakeshi Temple:

The Temple is built near the caves where the water flows to form the Hiranya Keshi River. It is located 5 km from the Main Main station. According to local people, the caves can be explored.

5) Durg and Dakako Trek:

Durg and Dakoba is popular peaks in the plateau between Naneghat and Bhimashankar hills near the province of Pune. 

Full of rejuvenation of greenery and lush green forests, this trip will be successful in taking on the noise and stress of living in a city and will be a favorite escape to a place full of peace and tranquility.

6) Nangarta Waterfalls:

 Nangarta Waterfalls is a small stream where waterfalls from a height of 40ft. It is located 10km from Amboli, just off the state highway. During the rainy season, the fall of the water makes the din easy to miss.

7) Point of sunset:

The setting sun is located a few miles from the bus stop heading for Sawantwadi.

It gives a beautiful view of the setting of the sun.

How to get there:

By train: The nearest train is Sawantwadi

By Road: Taxi or Jeep can be rented in Pune

Tour at Vaishno Devi India

Slideshow

Change image every 3 seconds:

1 / 5

Vaishno Devi

2 / 5

Vaishno Devi

3 / 5

Vaishno Devi

4 / 5

Vaishno Devi

5 / 5

Vaishno Devi

The Vaishno Devi shrine is found in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. The small town of Katra is the only way to reach the temple. The city is located on a very high plateau and is located in the foothills of the Himalayas low in the Trikuta region.

Similarly, the case is about the temple of Vaishnavdevi, located about 40 miles [61 km] from Jammu, at an altitude of about 5,500 feet [5,200 m]. The precise location of the mountain site is 14 km from the city of Katra. In reaching this point, the experience is completely different.

The spectacular views of the valleys, the lush vegetation, the swaying sounds of bees and the chirping of birds, the echoes of devotees "Jai Mata ki", "Jai Mata Di", Jai Jai Maiya and so on, always the way and the water falling with its silver glow is not to be missed.

All of that is worth seeing and watching from a distance from the mad crowd, the endless sounds of modern technology and cars. To reach the top of the hill one has to go up any of the routes found there. Devotees from all over India and abroad come here to have the 'Darshan' of the Goddess in charge of the hills.

The Pilgrims of the previous day used to start their journey during the days of ‘Navaratri’ (a special night in September) and continue for three months in a row. During these three months in Katra, Vaishnavdevi and other temples hold many beautiful programs dedicated to the Goddess.

'Homos' and 'Yagnas' (traditions) are celebrated by devotees and pilgrims. There is an undeniable belief about sacred places or Teerthasthal that they provide much-needed help, peace, and happiness to the visitor who has come under the protection of the Virgin from the daily turmoil of life.

 Before going to Darshan of Goddess one should bathe in various forms.

There are various baths designed for the same purpose. There is also a ‘Charanganga’ order from the sacred cave. People can use this water for bathing. After the guests sit down according to the serial number on the given slip and wait for their chance to have a Darshan of Goddess.

 It should be noted that pilgrims are not allowed to carry any leather goods, cigarettes or any other alcoholic beverages while visiting the sanctuary.

At the entrance to the cave, there is a large stone lying called the body of Bhairav. There is a continuous flow of water from this cave. One will not be able to stand straight anywhere in the cave. In fact nobody can withstand the rigors of the shape of the cave, the sanctuary, and other objects in Vaishnavdevi.

The only one who has been given the grace of the Queen in her Darshan can understand this natural state. Here in the cave of the hills, the goddess Vaishnavdevi leads the god to his abode on earth by the Mahalakshmi, Mashasaraswati, and Mahakali species.

Some people say that of the three deities in existence, the most prominent person in the body is the goddess Vaishnavdevi. Speaking of the cave, space would be enough for 3-4 people. Sitting right here in the same place Pundit takes the offerings of the devotees to the Goddess and gives the devotees the 'Prasad'.

After taking Darshan people to have to go out despite the new exit, which was made a few years ago to make it easier for travelers through the Shrine Board. After leaving the temple the people worshiped the little girls and worshiped Puri and Halwah (prasad). After visiting the goddess Vaishnavdevi, the people begin their journey back to Katra with Darshan of Bhairavnath where their journey ends.

Interesting places around Katra:

Batote: 125 kms from Jammu Located at an altitude of 1560 meters on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the view is surrounded by forested slopes of Mount Patnitop, overlooking Gorge lies The area is a well-developed tourist destination with many trading areas and facilities.

Jhajjar Kotli: 35 Kms on the National Highway to Srinagar is the Jhajjar Kotli Tourist Complex, located on the banks of the Jhajjar River. The clear, clear waters of Jhajjar attract many picnics in the summer. The Tourist Cafetaria and the Small Tourist Bungalow are centers offered here by JKTDC.

Kud: 106 kms from Jammu, this famous site is located on the main road Jammu-Srinagar, at an altitude of 1738 meters. Ideal picnic area this area has a nice climate. Heavy winter is needed in winter while light/medium clothing is needed in summer. A well-developed hill station in Udhampur district and receives heavy rainfall during the rainy season.

Mantalaii: Located a few miles from Sudh Mahadev, Mantalaii is surrounded by lush forests, at an altitude of more than 2,000 feet [2000 m]. It is believed that King Shiva was married to the goddess Parvati here.

Patni High: 112 km from Jammu. This famous hill station is famous for its beautiful plain, at an altitude of 2024 meters at the crossroads of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Covered by dense jungles, Patnitop offers magnificent picnic areas, peaceful walks, and spectacular views of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is often covered with dense snow, thus providing an opportunity for a variety of snow sports, including skiing.

It is a highly developed tourist destination and is second only to nature, climate, pine forests, and green cover. Slums and mud Bangalow are full of summer months.

There is a move by the Patnitop Development Authority to develop Patnitop, Kud, Sud-Mahadev, Mantalai districts. Reconstruction of Kud Road in Kud is also proposed. The route from Kud to Patnitop-Sanasar has already been completed.

The complete tourist region includes Jammu-Katra-VaishnoDeviji, Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop-Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantali, from Latti-Dhuna.

Sanasar: 119 kms. from Jammu and only 17 kms. from Patnitop, Sanasar is a cup-shaped cap surrounded by large conifers. A popular holiday destination, the pasture has been built as a golf course. It also offers para-gliding opportunities.

Shiv Khori: There are many important tourist and religious sites around Katra. Devotees come to darshans to the gods who can make their journey by visiting these places.

Especially during the chase when there is a lot of noise in Katra and Yatries they have to wait a while before they are allowed to continue in Bawan, they can spend their time visiting these places. The residence of the Holy Cave of Lord Shiva is located at a distance of 70 kms from Katra.

The cave is a real viewing area and is approximately 4 km high from the Shiv-lingam naturally built in the center of the Sanctum Sanctorum. 

The cave is in the shape of Lord Shiva's Damroo eg wide on both sides while it is very dense in the center. The width of the cave is so low that one can crawl into it and if it is more than 100 meters wide and very high again.

There are many features that can be seen in the cave, but the best is the clear natural waters dripping from the top to the Shiv-Ling that symbolize the eternity of the sacred river Ganga. 

The venue hosts a major exhibition in Shivratri. The Shiv-Khori Shrine is well connected with Katra / Jammu by road. Volunteers can visit the area by taxi/car. Few bus services from Katra are also available.

Father Dhansar: This temple of Lord Shiva is located at a distance of about 15 Kms. from Katra to Salal Dam. Here, a large spring rises from the rocks in a dense canopy and forms a few waterfalls before finally flowing into the Holy River that meets the Chenab River.

There is a naturally formed Shivling where water droplets fall every year. A large exhibition is held here during the Shivratri. With the yatris visiting the area, the Shrine Board made some improvements including the construction of Dharamshala.

Tour at Ellora Caves Maharashtra India

Slideshow

Change image every 3 seconds:

1 / 5

Ellora Caves

2 / 5

Ellora Caves

3 / 5

Ellora Caves

4 / 5

Ellora Caves

5 / 5

Ellora Caves

The caves of Ellora are twenty-eight kilometers (18 miles) from Aurangabad. The road passes through the Daultabad fort. 

The Ellora Cave Temples are the product of three religious denominations — Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Jainism, which contain intricate carvings of gods and goddesses and magnificent monuments to three major independent religions.

Each program had its own architectural style and Ellora introduced a variety of styles on the side. Carpentry work, too, raises controversial issues. Slope excavation is widespread, from north to south, about two miles [2 km]. 

There are 34 caves in total: 12 Buddhist caves (500-750 AD), 17 Hindu caves (600-870 AD), and 5 Jain villages (800-1000 AD). The caves are reckoned in chronological order, starting with the ancient Buddhist caves in the south and finally.

Buddhist Caves:

Buddhist caves are the first of the Ellora Caves, from 500 to 750 AD. All but cave 10 are viharas, used for study, meditation, community culture, food, and sleep.

The caves are gradually becoming larger and more ornate as they move north, explained by the aristocrats of the growing need to compete with Hinduism in defense. The first Hindu caves in Ellora date from 600 AD, in the middle of the Buddhist period.

Cave 1 is a wild vihara with eight tiny monks that are very small statues. It may have served as a repurchaser for large halls.

Cave 2 is very impressive. The large central room, supported by a 12-square-foot pillar, is filled with statues of Buddhist statues. The entrance to the sanctuary is filled with a muscular iPadmapani, holding a lotus, and the ruined Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. They both go along with their partners. Inside the temple is a Buddha sitting on a lion's throne.

Caves 3 and 4 have a similar design to Cave 2, but they are in poor condition.

The 5th largest cave in the series, is the viahra, 35.66 meters by 17 meters (117 ft. By 56 ft.), And in addition there are two separate spaces. Twenty-four pillars hold the roof. The interior seems to indicate that it was used as a guest house or as a class of novitiates. There is a common image of the Buddha in the church.

Cave 6 was carved over 600 years ago and is home to two of the most beautiful sculptures in Ellora. On the left is the goddess Tara, who has a powerful but kind speech. His opponent on the right is Mahamayuri, a Buddhist goddess of learning, depicted as a peacock. The diligent student sits at his desk below. Notably, Mahamayuri has a very similar Hindu partner, Saraswati.

Caves No. 7, 8, 9 is not to be seen.

The most beautiful 10th cave dates back to the early 700s and is known as the Carpenter's Cave because of its imitation of a stone pillar on the roof. Finally, a seated Buddha sits on a throne in front of a large stone stamp.

Hindu Caves:

Created during the prosperity and revival of Hinduism, Hindu caves represent a completely different style of creative and creative vision than Buddhist caves. Hindu temples are carved from top to bottom and require several generations of planning and integration to build.

There are 17 Hindu caves in total (numbers 13 to 29), dated between 600 and 870 AD. They live in the center of the cave, gathered around the famous temple of Kailasa.

In contrast with the quiet and modest Buddhists in the ancient caves, the walls of Hindu caves are covered with lively representations of events from Hindu texts. All the caves are dedicated to the god Shiva, but there are also other images of Vishnu and his various births.

The cave dates back to the early 600 days and was transformed into a Buddhist vihara. Its towering walls are adorned with elaborate fences and the entrance to the sanctuary is protected by the river goddess Ganga and Juna. Inside, the alcove shelters fertility goddesses with seven large breasts that hold tiny babies in their lap. To their right appears the feature of the Ganesh women and the beloved goddess of death, Kala and Kali.

Cave 15 was also a former Buddhist cave accepted by the Hindus. The ground floor is particularly unattractive, but the upper floor has a beautiful view of Ellora. On the right is a series of panels depicting the formation of Vishnu or ten avatars, giving the cave its name, Das Avatara.

The right panel of the antechamber shows the rise of Shaivism in the region at the time - Shiva comes out of the ring while his rivals Brahma and Vishnu stand in humility and supplication. The most beautiful statue of this cave is on the left wall of the room: it shows Shiva as Nataraja, Cosmic Dancer.

The most famous Hindu cave (Cave 16) is by no means a cave, but it is a magnificent temple carved in solid rock, very close to the independent temples of that time. It represents Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, and is called Kailashnath, Kailash, or Kailasa Temple. At first, it had thick white coat coats to make it look like a snowy mountain.

The Kailash Temple is a magnificent structure, with delightful landscapes and various sculptures. It is believed that it was started by Rashtrakuta's king Krishna I (756-773). Construction was a human endeavor - it involved the removal of 250,000 tons of rock, took 100 years to complete, and covered twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens. Many other Hindu caves stretch the mountain north of Kailash, but only three must-sees: 21, 25, and 29.

Cave 21, Ramesvara, dates to the late 500s and is thought to be the ancient Hindu cave in Ellora. It contains beautiful carvings, including river goddesses, guardians of two doors, and other loving couples surrounding the walls of the porch.

Cave 25 depicts the sun-god Surya driving his chariot early in the morning.

Above this, the trail quickly descends down the gorge, below the waterfall of the year, and then back to the 29th cave, Dhumar Lena. Dating since the late 500s, there is an unusual plan made for the cross. Two lions guarded its three steps. Inside, the walls are covered with large frames.

 To the left of the door, Shiva kills the demon Andhaka, then defeats Ravana's many armed attempts to move him and Parvati to the top of Mount Kailash. Don't miss his lump on the ground to exterminate the demon! On the south side, Shiva plays Parvati by grabbing his arm as he prepares to throw dice in the game.

Jain Caves:

Jain caves, dating to the late 800s and 900s, are 2 km north along the asphalt road. They reflect the diversity of Jain philosophy and culture, including the strong sense of self-sacrifice combined with the elaborate decoration. They are not as big as the others, but they contain detailed works of art.

 Many Jain caves had rich paintings on their roofs, fragments of which are still visible. Most notable of this group is Cave 32, Indra Sabha, a small temple of Kailash. The ground floor is clear but the upper floor has elaborate carvings, including a beautiful lotus flower on the roof. 

Two Tirthankaras monitor the entry of the central temple. To the right is the naked Gomatesvara, who meditates deeply in the forest - so much so that the vineyards grow on his legs and the animals, snakes, and scorpions crawl at his feet.