Weekend getaway: Ajanta and Ellora Caves
The Ajanta and Ellora Caves that date back to 200 BC have left tourists spellbound for years. Located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, these caves are man-made temples cut into the Sahayadri mountain range. They were built by generations of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monks who lived, worked, and worshipped in the caves, slowly carving out elaborate statues, pillars and meditation rooms. The 34 caves at Ellora and 29 caves at Ajanta remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a British Army officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedition in 1819. Ajanta has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Ajanta caves are of two types: chaityas (sanctuaries) and viharas (monasteries). Most of the interior walls are painted and depict the episodes of Buddha's life. At Ellora, the caves extend along the face of the hill for about 2 km and are divided into three distinct series - Buddhist, Brahmanical (Hindu) and Jain. It is extensively carved with exceptionally vigorous sculptures of Hindu divinities and mythological figures. The temple dedicated to the Shiva was built in the eighth century AD during the reign of the Rastraputas.
Trippingout
Getting there
By air: Aurangabad (99 km from Ajanta and 30 km from Ellora) is the ideal base from where to visit the caves. It is directly linked to Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, and Mumbai.
By rail: Aurangabad is linked to Mumbai and Pune. An alternative is Jalgaon, a railhead on the Central Railway that is 59 km from Ajanta.
By road: The excellent road network in Maharashtra links the caves of Ajanta and Ellora with Mumbai(around 789 km), Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Bijapur, and Aurangabad.
Accommodation: There are some provisions for accommodation around these caves and many local travel companies offer packages over the weekend to visit the area. Taj Residency, Rama International and Ambassador are a few neighbouring hotels.
Ideal stay: Three days and two nights.
National getaway: Lucknow
Culture preserved
Formerly known as Avadh or Oudh, Lucknow has always fascinated people from all over the world. Its culture of the nawabs, with their leisurely habits, etiquette, fine architecture and delicious food, has been preserved over the years. The capital of Uttar Pradesh has often been called the cultural capital of India.
What to see
Bada Imambada
It was built in 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula as a part of the famine relief project. It is a big vaulted hall, 50m long and 15m high. There is a mosque within (but non-Muslims can't enter) and a maze that's fun to explore (with a guide).
Rumi Darwaza
Built in 1783, it is said to be similar to one of the gates of Constantinople and is renowned for its beauty and magnificence.
Husainabad Imambada
Also known as Chhota Imambada, it was built by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1837. Rumoured to be the mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Shah himself, it encloses a tank with small imitations of the Taj Mahal on each side. The main imambada is topped by a golden dome that looks especially beautiful when illuminated during Muharram.
Jami Masjid
It is the largest mosque in Lucknow, with beautiful paintings on its ceilings, with leaf and fruit bowl patterns. Although Mohammed Shah began building it, it was his wife who made sure the structure was completed after his death in the 1840s.
How to get there
Air: Lucknow is connected by air with Delhi, Patna, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Rail: It is an important junction of the Northern and North Eastern Railways.
Road: Lucknow is well connected with some major cities like Agra (363km), Allahabad (225km), Calcutta (985km), Delhi (497km), Kanpur (79km) and Varanasi (305km)
Best Season: Between October and February
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