Trip to INDIA - 04 Araungabad

ARAUNGABAD.

17 January 2008

Dear Friends and Family

I met a couple from Australia on the train to Aurangabad. They have four daughters living in different part of the world. one in Waterloo (close to Brussels) one in Derby, England, one in India. The daughter who loves in India is a doctor, she organized her parent’s trip in great details, the equivalent ot a “prescription” for fun. The parents themselves, Laurel and Geoff have lived in different parts of the world, Geoff, who is a physicist, has been able to find teaching positions.

Since the Australians have only two full days in Aurangabad, they plan to visit the Ajunta Caves the day of arrival, and the Ellora Caves the next day. I took it easy the first day (we arrived at 4:30) in the morning. Yesterday I shared a taxi to the Ellora Cave with the Australian.There is a total of 34 caves to visit; 12 Buddhist Caves (500 – 700 AD), 17 Hindu Caves (757 – 900 AD), and 5 Jain Caves (900 – 1100 AD). The Caves (somewhat similar to Elephanta) are dug out of the side of solid rock masses, complete with integrated columns, rooms, courtyards, and statues dedicated to different deities. There are two three-storied caves, and then the piece-the-resistance, the largest rock temple in the world dedicated to Krishna 1^st. This building (a representation of Mount Kailash in Tibet) was carved out of the mountain by cutting three huge trenches from the top. The shape of the temple was then released with tools to create a building twice the area of the Parthenon in Athens and 1 ½ times as high. The architectural details, the statues, the friezes are simply amazing.

19 January 2008

Yesterday I went to visit the Ajanta Caves (A World Heritage site) wwhich is 102 km (a little over 60 mi) north of Aurangabad. The combination of heavy traffic, narrow potholed roads, underpowered old bus, made this trip a long one. It took us over two hours to get there.

In Ajanta there are 26 Buddhist caves that can be visited. They have been carved out of a step cliff that follows a horseshoe bend in the river Waghora. The caves are somewhat similar to the caves in Ellora except that four of the caves have their walls and ceilings covered with truly beautiful paintings. They covered the rock face with some mud and covered that with plaster. The paint (tempera) is applied to the dried plaster. Much of the paintings and the rock carvings depict the life of Buddha. Ajanta would be the one to visit if short of time.

I met a 20 year old Norvegian woman who is travelling on her own, but her 89 year old grandmother is going to join her in Kolkuta for a couple of weeks. Neat! I am checking out today and will be boarding a bus for a 17 hour ride all the way to Panaji (Goa). Hopefully my longest trip.

Love and Peace - henri