Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Bedse Caves which is also popularly known as Bedsa Caves is a 2300 year old Buddhist monument and is considered to be one of the oldest caves in the state of Maharashtra and is located in the Maval taluk of Pune district.
Most interesting cave is chaitya (prayer hall) with exquisite stupa in it almost reaching the ceiling. Both sides of the main hall are flanked by octagonal columns. Five columns are adorned with simple ornaments. Several ancient inscriptions are left by the benefactors of caves. Entrance in the cave is adorned with two round pillars and two semi-columns, each of them has beautiful sculptural groups on cap  humans or deities riding animals  e.g. horse, bull, elephant. The vaulted ceiling of chaitya is simple and bare unlike to later temples.
The other large cave chamber is vihara  monastery  with nine smaller cells for early Buddhist monks Bhiku. Monks stayed here mostly during the monsoon  for some 4 months every year. Thus caves got their earlier name  Vasha Viharas  rain caves.
Both caves are facing eastwards so it is recommended to visit the caves early morning, as in sunlight the beauty of carvings is enhanced. There is also a small "Stupa" outside to the right of the main caves. 
Also close to the Bedse caves are the famous foursome of Lohagad, Visapur, Tung and Tikona forts adjoining the Pawana Dam.
The best time to visit Bedse Caves is the rainy season as the hills are filled with lush greenery during that time. Also many small waterfalls are created that can only be enjoyed during the rainy season. As this is one of the lesser known spots, not many tourists throng the place, so makes it easy to enjoy the views.
How to Reach
By Air
The Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai is the nearest airport which is 110 km from Kamshet. Pune domestic airport is 60 km away from Kamshet.
By Road
Bede caves are located at about 54 kms distance from Pune and it takes around 1 hr 27 mins to reach Bedse caves from Pune. Bedse caves have the way which passes near from Kamshet. From Kamshet, one has to take the road that goes to Pavananagar or Pavana Dam. The straight road of around 7-9 kms from there goes to the turn towards Bedse.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Pune. Since Pune is one of the major cities in Maharashtra, it is well connected to the other major cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Delhi, Ahmedabad etc by rail. After getting down to Pune railway station, onw may hire car to reach to the Bedse caves.

Bedse - Maharashtra - India

Location: Pune, Maharashtra 410405, India

Monday, 16 March 2020

Situated at around 30 kms from Aurangabad, Ellora caves are the famous caves in the Maharashtra. These are total 34 caves and contain beautiful rock-cut temples. Ellora caves are also known as ‘Verul Leni’ locally. With Ajanta caves, Ellora caves are also considered as one of the best and popular heritage sites in the world. 
Ellora Caves are a World Heritage Site and are famous for their architecture. The place is a complex of monasteries and Buddhist temples that have been cut out of a single mountain rock. 
The Ellora Caves are an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples built between the 6th and 10th centuries AD near the ancient Indian village of Ellora. The caves have a slightly less dramatic setting than those at Ajanta, but more exquisite sculptures. Ellora is a World Heritage Site and the most visited ancient monument in Maharashtra State.

The coexistence of structures from three different religions serve as a splendid visual representation of the prevalent religious tolerance of India. For this reason and others, the Ellora Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Ellora complex includes 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain Caves. Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist monasteries, chaityas and viharas, while caves 13 to 29 are the Hindu temples. Dating back to the 9th and 10th century, Caves 30 to 34 are the Jain shrines.

The perfect time to visit the Ellora caves is from October to February and from June to September, since tourists get to feel the pleasant climate in these seasons and when every stream is filled with rain water.
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport to Ellora lies in Aurangabad which is located 15 kilometers away. Daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai arrive here while there is direct connectivity of airport with Jaipur, Pune and Udaipur as well.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Aurangabad to which regular trains from Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Amritsar etc. have a stopover. Besides there are a couple of daily trains that arrive to Aurangabad from Mumbai. Jalgaon is another suitable alternative to Aurangabad which is located 59 km from Ellora. Both of these stations are served by trains from all major cities of India.
By Road: The closest inter-state terminal is located in Aurangabad, which is situated at a distance of 30 kilometers from Ellora. Regular Autos ply from this terminus to Ellora or you can also catch private or Govt. run buses as well.
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Ellora - Maharashtra - India

Friday, 13 March 2020

The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples in Ajanta, India, some of which date from the 2nd century BC. Encompassing both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the Ajanta caves preserve some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
The Ajanta caves, inspired by Buddhist architecture, are among the finest examples of early Buddhist civilization. Paintings depicting the Jataka tales and other diverse stories of Buddha come to life in these caves.

Quite and meditative, these caves also take you back in time and narrate the stories of a royal who, with his saint-like qualities, left all the riches behind to become Buddha. Elaborate sculptures, wall inscriptions, rock carvings, Viharas, Hindu/Jain monasteries and the Kailasa Temple are some of the most interesting things to see while at the caves.
These caves have attracted pilgrims and tourists for decades and were declared as a 'World Heritage Site' by UNESCO in 1983.

The Ajanta Caves are a cultural masterpiece from Ancient India. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a collection of paintings, sculptures and temples of Buddhist art, constructed from 200 B.C to 500 A.D. 
Ajanta Caves are one of the most visited ancient monuments in India and also one of the top Tourist places in Maharashtra. 
How to Reach
By Air : Aurangabad (99 kms) is the nearest airport from Ajanta Caves.
By Train: The nearest railway station is Jalgaon (59 kms).
By Road: The caves are well linked by excellent roadway network to the major cities like Mumbai, Jalgaon, Pune, Shirdi, Ahmadnagar, Aurangabad, Nasik, Ahmedabad, Bijapur, Hydrabad and Indore.
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Ajanta - Maharashtra - India

Location: Maharashtra 431117, India
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