They respect traditions, are very sensitive to the preservation of ancient artifacts, so the temples built many centuries ago have survived to this day in all their grandeur, without losing their wealth and splendor. In order to see the amazing temples of Ancient India, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the country every year. What sanctuaries are definitely worth visiting when you find yourself on the territory of the largest state in South Asia?

Shiva temple

In Hinduism, there are a huge number of gods, the most revered of which is Shiva. Shiva personifies the universal consciousness, as well as the masculine principle. Many temples in India are dedicated to this deity. The most famous religious building dedicated to Shiva is a temple located in one of the oldest Indian settlements, called Baijanath.

The majestic building was built at the beginning of the XIII century at the expense of the merchants Ahuk and Manyuk. The sanctuary is decorated with a huge number of figurines depicting Shiva and other gods. Inside the building, you can see a sculpture of Shiva driving a chariot next to his wife, the goddess Parvati.

It is especially unique due to the fact that on its territory there is the world's largest sculptural image of Shiva, whose height reaches 37 meters. The main god of Hinduism is depicted sitting in the traditional lotus position. The monumental statue is painted gold and seems to be bathed in sunshine.

The sanctuary is open to tourists and pilgrims. Especially many pilgrims gather here during religious holidays, the main of which is the celebration called "Dance of Shiva". At this time, Hindus come to Baijanath to spend time in prayer and meditation, as well as watering the sacred lingams with milk, that is, images of the genitals of Shiva and Parvati, which also adorn this majestic temple.

Golden temple

The Golden Temple, which the people of India call "Kashi Vishwanath", is located off the banks of the Ganges in the city of Varanasi. The Golden Temple is one of 12 sacred places where Hindus can pay homage to Lord Shiva.

Any Hindu who intends to leave samsara or the circle of eternal rebirth forever must perform a special rite at least once in his life: visit the Golden Temple and take a bath in the Ganges. Therefore, the sanctuary is very popular. True, only people who profess Hinduism can get inside: for the rest, the road to this sacred place is closed.

It is interesting that almost a ton of pure gold was used to decorate the domes of the temple. True, this splendor can only be discerned from the upper floors of neighboring buildings.

Temple of love

The majestic complex of Khajuraho or "Temple of Love" can be called one of the most unusual and original religious buildings in India. This refuge of the gods is located in an abandoned city that was swallowed up by the jungle many centuries ago. It is to this fact that Khajuraho owes its safety.

It is not known exactly when the complex was erected, but historians believe that it appeared about ten centuries ago during the reign of the Rajput dynasty. When the country was conquered by the Muslims, many temples in India were destroyed, but Kajuharo miraculously survived. True, only 22 structures out of the 85 that once existed have survived to us. It is possible that the temple was not destroyed because the local residents left the city, fearing the invasion of Afghan tribes, and the buildings were hidden from prying eyes by dense thickets of tropical vegetation.

The buildings were found only in 1838 by an engineer from Britain D.S. Bart. At the moment, the restoration of the temple continues and excavations are underway nearby.

Kajuharo is truly amazing. The walls of the temple complex are decorated with numerous bas-reliefs made with filigree precision: the detailing is amazing to the core. Several thousand bas-reliefs depict battle, mythological and erotic scenes, the latter surprising with their frankness and sensuality.

According to legend, the temple was erected in order to glorify the power of human love and passion, as well as female beauty. One can only guess how much time and effort it took the ancient masters to create this mysterious, unusual and unique complex. He seems to embody the fullness of human existence in all its beauty and passion.

Brajeshwari Devi temple

The majestic white temple of Brajeshwari Devi is very popular among Hindus. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the appearance of the sanctuary is shrouded in the secret of a beautiful legend. When Shiva's wife committed suicide by throwing herself into the flames, Shiva pulled her body out of the fire and, losing her mind from grief, began his destructive dance. Vishnu, fearing that the distraught Shiva would destroy the world, cut the body of his wife into fifty pieces and scattered them all over India. The left breast of the goddess also turned into the Brajeshvari Devi temple.

Brajeshwari Devi is famous for his delicate, exquisite attire. Unfortunately, Brajeshvari Devi has not survived to this day in its original form: it was destroyed more than once by both human hands and the forces of nature.

Lotus Temple

Not only ancient, but also recently created temples of India are beautiful and admirable. The latter includes the magnificent Lotus Temple, which was completed in 1986. Perhaps it can be called one of the most majestic and symbolic temples in India. It is a monumental structure made in the form of a giant blossoming lotus flower surrounded by nine pools of turquoise water.

It was built with donations from people who believe in the unity of all world religions. Really, appearance the temple and its decoration are conducive to philosophical reflections: dim light, peace and complete silence make you abandon the earthly vanity and think about the eternal. By the way, they take special care of the silence in the temple: loud conversations and photography are prohibited here. Maybe this particular temple is worth visiting once in India: the idea of ​​the unity of all world religious movements and the need to live in harmony with all that exists in our difficult time is relevant as never before ...

The oldest, at least five millennia old, architecture of India has found its most perfect embodiment in the majestic temple buildings located throughout this vast country ...

The ancient temples of India embody all the diversity of religious traditions that replaced one another, then coexisted side by side for many centuries, supporting and complementing each other. It was these traditions that created the diverse and diverse image of Indian civilization so impressive for Europeans.

In this article, we have tried to describe the most famous and revered ancient temples in India. Almost all of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are cultural treasures of all mankind.

Big stupa in Sanchi

The stupa, or burial place of the remains of the Buddha, is of great importance in the religious life of many Hindus. The most famous and revered of these is located in Sanchi, located in Central India. It was built in the third century BC. and perfectly preserved its appearance.

Today, the Sanchi stupa has undergone restoration. The dome in the form of a hemisphere symbolizes the vault of the sky, and the upper part symbolizes Mount Meru, sacred for Buddhists. Inside the building, according to legend, there is a part of the remains of the Buddha.

The sanctuary is surrounded by a massive stone wall with four elaborately carved ceremonial gates, one of the most famous symbols of India.

Temple complex of Ajanta

The temple complex of Ajanta is one of the most ancient cave temples in India, where not only columns carved from stone and wall decorations have been preserved, but also numerous frescoes with magnificent colorful images.

It consists of 29 cave halls, the most ancient of which were built in the 1st-3rd centuries AD. The temple buildings here are adjacent to the monastic cells, since they were created by monks who were looking for solitude from the bustle of the world.

Each of the halls has a square shape, the ceiling is supported by stone columns decorated with rich carvings. On the sides of the central hall are small cells in which the monks lived.

Ellora cave temples

The most beautiful temple complex, including Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples, is located near the village of Ellora (Maharashtra state).

The impressive stone structures are carved from solid rock in the middle of a mountain range that surrounds them on all sides like the walls of a giant bowl.

Here is one of the most revered examples of Dravidian architecture - the Kailash temple, where you can see giant statues of the gods Vishnu, Shiva, goddess Lakshmi and other representatives of the Hindu pantheon carved out of stone.

Khajuraho temple

One of the most famous and visited temples by Europeans is Khajuraho, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva the destroyer. It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh and bears the name of Kandarya Mahadeva.

This temple is famous for its stone carvings, representing thousands of different subjects of erotic content, made with amazing art and naturalism.

The temple buildings themselves are amazingly beautiful, and the spicy stone carving attracts tens of thousands of tourists here who want to see the famous "stone Kamasutra" with their own eyes.

The annual Indian Traditional Dance Festival is held here in February and March. the best time to visit the Khajuraho temple complex.

Lingaraja Temple

The Lingaraja Temple in Orissa is one of the most impressive structures of the phallic cult of Shiva. Erected in the 9th century AD, it is today a grandiose temple complex with a 55-meter-high central tower that resembles an ear of corn.

The tower is covered with carvings depicting female figures intertwined with figures of various animals. A granite lingam with a height of about 8 meters is installed in the main sanctuary.

Hindus believe that it belongs not only to Shiva, but also to Vishnu - this feature makes the Lingaraja temple unique and one of the most revered in India.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)

Located in the ancient Indian city of Varanasi (Benares), the Kashi Vishtvanath temple has been completely destroyed many times, but each time it was rebuilt again. Today it is one of the most sacred places for every Hindu.

The walls of the temple are covered with gilding, on which about 800 kg of gold were spent. Unfortunately, the temple is located in the midst of dense urban development, and in order to see its golden roof, tourists need to climb to the third floor of the neighboring building.

Inside the temple, in a hollow trimmed with pure silver, there is its main shrine - the lingam of Adi Visheashvara, guarded by a silver cobra.

Venkateswara Temple

The Venkateswara Temple, which is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in Southeast India, covers an area of ​​more than two hectares. This is one of the most visited sanctuaries in the world, called the Hindu Vatican and dedicated to the god Vishnu.

The temple was erected over a thousand years ago on one of the seven hills of Tirumala (Sacred Mountain). Every adherent of the Hindu religion must visit it at least once in his life.

The luxury of the decoration and decoration of the temple amazes not only believers, but also tourists: the central vimana tower is covered with pure gold, interior decoration also made of gold and precious stones.

The Venkateswara Temple is distinguished not only by the exceptional wealth of donations, but also by their originality. Believers sacrifice their own hair to Vishnu, the total weight of which reaches about 15 tons per year.

Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)

Harmandir Sahib is the main shrine of the Sikhs and also the most famous golden temple in India. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, in the center of the sacred lake Amritsar, in which pilgrims immerse themselves before entering the temple. The walls of the building are covered with gold slabs and precious stones, and interior decoration even richer than the outside. Sikhs preach the equality and unity of all religions, so free admission is open to everyone, you just need to wash your feet and put on a hat. More than 20,000 people visit Harmandir Sahib every day. The temple has a free dining room where anyone, whether tourist or pilgrim, can eat simple Indian food. Here you can stay for the night, there are special sleeping rooms for this.

Meenakshi Temple


The delightful temple complex is located in a square in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and covers an area of ​​6 hectares. The building was erected in honor of the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi, one of the avatars of Parvati. This event is celebrated annually to this day. The entire colorful world of Hinduism is represented in the Meenakshi temple: the walls are covered with figures of gods, mythical animals, guards, priests, musicians, men and women. The scale and diversity are striking. It is interesting to visit here for both adults and children; about 15 thousand people visit the temple every day.

Big stupa in Sanchi


The stupa, or burial place of the remains of the Buddha, is of great importance in the religious life of many Hindus. The most famous and revered of these is located in Sanchi, located in Central India. It was built in the third century BC. and perfectly preserved its appearance. Today, the Sanchi stupa has undergone restoration. The dome in the form of a hemisphere symbolizes the vault of the sky, and the upper part symbolizes Mount Meru, sacred for Buddhists. Inside the building, according to legend, there is a part of the remains of the Buddha. The sanctuary is surrounded by a massive stone wall with four elaborately carved ceremonial gates, one of the most famous symbols of India.

Temple complex of Ajanta


The temple complex of Ajanta is one of the most ancient cave temples in India, where not only columns carved from stone and wall decorations have been preserved, but also numerous frescoes with magnificent colorful images. It consists of 29 cave halls, the most ancient of which were built in the 1st-3rd centuries AD. The temple buildings here are adjacent to the monastic cells, since they were created by monks who were looking for solitude from the bustle of the world. Each of the halls has a square shape, the ceiling is supported by stone columns decorated with rich carvings. On the sides of the central hall are small cells in which the monks lived.

Ellora cave temple


The most beautiful temple complex, including Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples, is located near the village of Ellora (Maharashtra state). The impressive stone structures are carved from solid rock in the middle of a mountain range that surrounds them on all sides like the walls of a giant bowl. Here is one of the most revered examples of Dravidian architecture - the Kailash temple, where you can see giant statues of the gods Vishnu, Shiva, goddess Lakshmi and other representatives of the Hindu pantheon carved out of stone.

Khajuraho temple


One of the most famous and visited temples by Europeans is Khajuraho, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva the destroyer. It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh and bears the name of Kandarya Mahadeva. This temple is famous for its stone carvings, representing thousands of different subjects of erotic content, made with amazing art and naturalism. The temple buildings themselves are amazingly beautiful, and the spicy stone carving attracts tens of thousands of tourists here who want to see the famous "stone Kamasutra" with their own eyes. The annual Indian Traditional Dance Festival is held here in February and March, making it the best time to visit the Khajuraho temple complex.

Lingaraja Temple


The Lingaraja Temple in Orissa is one of the most impressive structures of the phallic cult of Shiva. Erected in the 9th century AD, it is today a grandiose temple complex with a 55-meter-high central tower that resembles an ear of corn. The tower is covered with carvings depicting female figures intertwined with figures of various animals. A granite lingam with a height of about 8 meters is installed in the main sanctuary. Hindus believe that it belongs not only to Shiva, but also to Vishnu - this feature makes the Lingaraja temple unique and one of the most revered in India.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)


Located in the ancient Indian city of Varanasi (Benares), the Kashi Vishtvanath temple has been completely destroyed many times, but each time it was rebuilt again. Today it is one of the most sacred places for every Hindu. The walls of the temple are covered with gilding, on which about 800 kg of gold were spent. Unfortunately, the temple is located in the midst of dense urban development, and in order to see its golden roof, tourists need to climb to the third floor of the neighboring building. Inside the temple, in a hollow trimmed with pure silver, there is its main shrine - the lingam of Adi Visheashvara, guarded by a silver cobra.

Venkateswara Temple


The Venkateswara Temple, which is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in Southeast India, covers an area of ​​more than two hectares. This is one of the most visited sanctuaries in the world, called the Hindu Vatican and dedicated to the god Vishnu. The temple was erected over a thousand years ago on one of the seven hills of Tirumala (Sacred Mountain). Every adherent of the Hindu religion must visit it at least once in his life. The luxury of the decoration and decoration of the temple amazes not only believers, but also tourists: the central vimana tower is covered with pure gold, the interior decoration is also made of gold and precious stones. The Venkateswara Temple is distinguished not only by the exceptional wealth of donations, but also by their originality. Believers sacrifice their own hair to Vishnu, the total weight of which reaches about 15 tons per year.

Publication 2018-09-07 Liked 9 Views 6512

7 Indian temples of love and sex

Everywhere you look, there is sex everywhere

India is a sacred wonderland full of mysteries. Spiritual and bodily riddles. Millions of people from all over the world come here to ancient temples for answers. But some of them raise more questions than answers. Especially Indian temples of sex and love.

The first Europeans, seeing scenes of sex on the walls of Indian temples, were pretty shocked

Sex scenes on temple walls in India

Thousands of people flock to India to see the so-called temples of sex and love. These incredible Indian religious buildings are stunning with their beauty and erotic stories on the walls. Artful stone bas-reliefs and sculptures depict gods, ordinary people and animals in highly piquant situations. It is explicit scenes of a sexual nature that make tourists freeze in amazement, and some are literally shocked. After all, these temple erotic sculptures are hundreds and hundreds of years old! Why is there so much sex in places of worship? And why is India's intimate architecture needed?

An architectural hymn to sex in India

According to one version, the ancient Indians attached equal importance to both bodily and spiritual principles. There were no taboos regarding sex. Moreover, the art of love was specially taught: remember the famous "Kama Sutra", which they began to write back in the 4th century. BC. But there was also a clear understanding of what place sex should occupy in a person's life. Indian temples are a clear confirmation of this. All pictures of lust are depicted only outside the temples on the lower levels of the walls, so that each worshiper can cleanse himself of base feelings and learn to control them.

The intimate architecture of India celebrates love in all its forms

TOP 7 Indian temples of love and sex

There are, of course, many more Indian temples illustrating the sex of the ancients. We have selected only seven of the best.

Gomateswara - the tallest monolith statue in the world (18 m)

Khajuraho is the most famous temple

This famous symbol of the temple erotic sculpture of ancient India is perfectly preserved. Since 1986, a complex of 20 surviving temples in the town of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh state) is protected by UNESCO. All of them are dedicated to the gods of Vaishnavism, Jainism, Shaivism and were built in the period from 950 to 1100.

Sex without taboo in ancient Indian temples

Erotic images are found on friezes and bas-reliefs of temple facades. Most often these are Surasundari - puffy beauties personifying the heavenly female beauty. But there are also scenes of a homosexual nature. It is noteworthy that sex is presented with only one purpose out of three possible in Indian philosophy - the purpose of pleasure. We are not talking about enlightenment and procreation. According to the calculations of Indologists, there is not much eroticism in these bas-reliefs. Only 2-3% of the total number of sculptures are sexually explicit. But what!

Khajuraho - the birthplace of the "Kamasutra"

The Temple of the Sun is the most obscene

This stunning creation of 13th century Indian architecture in Konark (Orissa) is dedicated to the sun god and looks like an incredible chariot with wheels and columns. The temple with erotic figures is located near the ocean, and, unfortunately, did not reach its contemporaries in its original form.

The Indian Temple of Sex and Love in Konark was built in honor of the Sun

The main tower, 60 meters high, rests in ruins. But the bulk of the stone sculptures and bas-reliefs have survived to this day. Most are devoted to the topic of the most frank carnal pleasures. At one time, the British considered them obscene. And archaeologists are still confident in their sacredness.

Sex in this temple was dedicated to the Sun. Much better than sacrifices

Today, life is in full swing in the Temple of the Sun. In addition to pilgrims, people come here every year for the classical festival.

Boramdeo is the most poetic

Due to the many obscene sculptures on the walls, this complex of four temples in the state of Chattisgarh is often compared to Khajuraho. Their beauty is so perfect that they are also called "sparkling poetry in stone". The temples are dedicated to Shiva and built by the kings of Nagwanshi from stone and brick. Many of the sex scenes on the walls of these Indian temples reflect. For example, in the Madha Mahal temple there are 54 of them.

The Indian temple of Boramdeo was built during the period of prosperity of tantrism and occultism

Tripurantaka is the most skillful

This temple, erected in 1070 A.D. in Karnataka, now in a dilapidated state, but still famous for its perforated stone carvings. Walls, windows, ceilings, screens - everything is replete with miniature figurines of mythical animals and people having sophisticated sex.

A Thousand Years Ago Sex Was Not Targeted at by Puritans

Temple of the Sun - the most destroyed

Connoisseurs of the architecture of Indian temples should definitely take a look at the Temple of the Sun in Gujarat. It was built in the 11th century on the banks of the river and has been plundered and eroded over the centuries. But the unique elements of stone carving have survived. Along with everyday scenes from the life of gods and people, on the walls of the temple there are fragments of the sexual life of that era - pure and not subject to strict morality.

In the ancient Indian temple of the Sun, sex symbolizes fertility.

Markandeshwar is the most demonic

According to legend, this temple of the god Shiva was built on the banks of the river by evil forces in just one night. Pilgrims visit it today, considering this place holy. However, this Indian temple is not very well known to most tourists. The intricate skillful stone carving distinguishes it from other structures. In addition to the usual everyday scenes, a lot of plots on the walls are also devoted to sex.

According to legend, the Markandeshwar temple was built overnight by evil forces.

Virupaksha is the most ancient

Located in Hampi (Karnataka state), the Shiva Temple is also a UNESCO heritage site. It was built in the 7th century on a vast territory near the Tungabhadra River, and consists of many parts. Despite the destruction, Virupaksha still attracts numerous pilgrims and tourists. Especially in early December when the Virupaksha and Pampa wedding festival is held here. The ancients perceived bodily love differently, and it is quite understandable that the decor of this Indian temple is also not devoid of scenes of carnal pleasures.

Erotic scenes on the walls of the temple attract many tourists to Hampi

Everywhere you look, there is sex everywhere

The Indians sincerely believed that the eroticism on the walls promotes the renunciation of base motives. Therefore, sculptures of lovers having sex can be found in many other Indian temples. We advise you to visit:

• ancient temple of Nanda Devi in ​​Almora (Uttarakhand state)
• Lingaraja temple and Bhubaneswar, (Orissa state)
• Jain Temple of Sex Osian Jain, (Rajasthan State)
• Jagdish Mandir, built in honor of Vishnu (Udaipur state)
• ruins of temples Padavali, (Madhya Pradesh state)
• Kailash Temple located in Ellora Caves (Maharashtra State)
• Ranakpur - white marble temple dedicated to Adinata, (Rajasthan state)

Another version: sex was depicted on the walls of temples for sex education

Through the centuries, these exciting erotic images captured in stone have helped contemporaries better understand the history of this wondrous, passionate country. The intimate architecture of India will excite many generations of earthlings.

Kamasutra- an ancient Indian treatise on kama - the sphere of sensual, emotional life, lust and love. He describes 64 sex positions, calling them "arts"

Vaishnavism- one of the main directions of Hinduism. His followers worship Vishnu and his incarnations - Krishna and Rama.

Jainism- an ancient dharmic religion that formed around the 9th-6th centuries BC. NS. The philosophy and practice of Jainism is based, first of all, on the self-improvement of the soul to achieve omniscience, omnipotence and eternal bliss.

Shaivism- one of the main directions of Hinduism, the tradition of worshiping Shiva. Shaivism is widely practiced throughout India and beyond. The indologist R. N. Dandekar considered Shaivism to be the most ancient of the existing religions of the civilized world.

If you want to know better the history of the ruling dynasties and religious cults of India, the preserved monuments of architecture will help you to do this, clearly telling about the greatness of the ancient empires. Certainly one of the most important monuments ancient history are the cave temples of India, which served as a refuge and the main center of training for the followers of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism since the beginning of our era.

The most famous and well-preserved cave temples are located in the state of Maharashtra near Aurangabad, the ancient capital of the Mughal Empire. Long before the arrival of the Mughals, this region was a center for the development of trade and religion. Ancient trade routes passed through the Deccan plains and pilgrims took refuge in caves, which were rebuilt into spiritual abodes.

I want to tell about cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora- true diamonds of ancient Indian art and architecture. At the beginning of our era, there were trade routes across the territory of the Deccan plateau (the modern state of Maharashtra), along with the merchants went the first Buddhist ascetics, carrying their faith to the territory of southern India. To escape the seasonal rains and the scorching sun, travelers needed shelter. The construction of monasteries and temples is a long and costly business, so the first pilgrims chose caves in the rocky mountains as their refuge, which provided coolness in the heat and remained dry during the rainy season.

The first Buddhist caves were carved in the 2nd century BC, then they were simple and uncomplicated shelters. Later, at the turn of the 4th-6th centuries, cave temple complexes grew into huge monastic cities, where hundreds of monks lived, and the caves turned into three-story monasteries, skillfully decorated with sculptures and wall paintings.

In the cave cities of Ajanta and Ellora, three religions were consistently practiced - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Now on the territory of the complexes you can see ancient statues and wall paintings of these three religions. So, the first inhabitants of the cave cities were Buddhists, then the Hindus came, and the Jain temples were the last to be carved out, although it is possible that the followers of all religions coexisted here at the same time, creating a tolerant religious society in the middle of the first millennium.

Ajanta

The Ajanta cave temple complex is located 100 km from the city of Aurangabad, it is located in the bed of the Waghur River and was cut down from the 2nd century BC. to the middle of the 7th century A.D. For centuries, ancient sculptors methodically removed the soil from the basalt rock, and the interior of the caves was decorated with graceful sculptures and frescoes.

At the end of the 5th century, the Harishen dynasty fell, which was the main sponsor of the construction of the caves, and the complex was gradually abandoned. The monks left their secluded abode, and the locals gradually forgot about the existence of cave temples. The jungle swallowed up the caverns, bricking up the entrances with thick vegetation. An artificial microclimate was formed in the caves, which preserved to our times the frescoes of the beginning of the first millennium, which have no analogues not only in India, but throughout the world. Thus, the caves have brought the beauty of the ancient masters to our days.

The complex was discovered by British Army officer John Smith in 1819 while hunting a tiger. From the opposite bank of the river. Vaghar he saw the arch of the entrance to the cave # 10.

"Graffiti" by Officer John Smith, which he left in 1819.

Later, 30 caves were discovered, the complex was cleared and partially restored, and in 1983 the Ajanta cave complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now it is one of the most famous landmarks in central India. At the moment in the complex you can visit 28 caves belonging to the Buddhist tradition. Ancient frescoes have been preserved in caves 1,2,9,11,16,17 and in caves 9,10,19,26 you will see an elegant Buddhist sculpture.

Some caves served as places for rituals and group prayers, they are called "chatyas" or meeting rooms, others served as dwellings for monks, they are called "viharas" or monasteries. The caves have different layouts and degrees of decoration.

Some caves are under development, these examples clearly show how the construction of the complex took place.
From the opposite bank of the Waghar River, a beautiful view of the entire complex opens; the scale of the complex is really impressive.

Previously, each cave had its own personal descent to the river for the fence drinking water, a rainwater storage system was developed, and a watercourse during the monsoon period. The walls of most of the caves were painted with detailed frescoes, the secret of the application of which has not yet been solved, some well-preserved areas convince us of the high level of skill of ancient painters, and before our eyes it rises forgotten history and the customs of those centuries.

Ajanta's "visiting card" is the image of the Bodhisattva Padmapani!

Of course, a visit to the cave temples of Ajanta will create one of the most interesting impressions of India, but it will not be complete without a visit to the Ellora complex, which is located nearby. Despite the fact that both complexes are similar in concept, they are completely different in execution.

Ellora

The cave temple complex of Ellora, located 30 km from Aurangabad, was cut down during the 5-11th century, and has 34 caves, 12 of which are Buddhist (1-12) 17 Hindu (13-29) and 5 Jain (30-34) , cut down in chronological accordance.

If the Ajanta complex is famous for its frescoes, then in Ellora it is certainly a sculpture. Ellora acquired the true dawn with the withering of Ajanta, apparently most of the monks and craftsmen moved here starting from the 6th century AD. In Ellora, the viewer is shocked by the scale of the buildings, for example, some caves are three-storey "viharas" - monasteries where up to several hundred monks could live. Undoubtedly, such a scale is amazing, especially considering that the dates of construction date back to the 5-7 centuries AD.

But the true gem of the complex is Kailasanath temple (Lord of Kailash) or cave number 16.

This 30 meter high temple was carved for 100 years during the 8th century. For its construction, 400,000 tons of basalt rock were extracted, while not a single detail was brought into the temple from the outside, everything was cut in the basalt rock from top to bottom, like on a modern 3D printer. Of course, I have not seen anything like it anywhere else in India. This masterpiece of ancient architecture rises on the same level with the temples "Angor Wat" in Cambodia and "Bagan" in Burma, but the dates of construction are almost a millennium earlier!

The temple is an allegory of the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, on which, according to legend, Lord Shiva was in meditation. Previously, the entire temple was covered with white plaster, in order to resemble the snow-covered peak of Kailash, all the sculptures were skillfully painted with paints, the details of which can be seen even now, many of the temple's galleries are decorated with detailed stone carvings. To understand the greatness of the Kailasanath temple, one must see it with one's own eyes. Photos can hardly convey its greatness and beauty!

Aurangabad

The temples of Ajanta and Ellora attract many tourists from India and from all over the world, on holidays it can be quite crowded here, and in order to better understand the history in stone, it is recommended to take a tour accompanied by a guide.

It is better to choose the city of Aurangabad as a base for exploring the temples, there are many hotels for every taste and budget, you can get here by train, plane or bus from Mumbai and Goa. Vacationers in Goa can combine a visit to the cave temples with beach vacation.

In addition to the cave temples, the city itself keeps many historical monuments, though of a much later period. In the 17th century, the great Mughal sultan Aurangazeb ruled here. The most impressive monument of that time is the Bibik Makbara mausoleum, often called the Little Taj. This beautiful mausoleum of white marble was erected by Emperor Aurangzeb in memory of his wife Rabia Ud Daurani, it bears a great resemblance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, where Aurangzeb's mother is buried.

A visit to the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora is undoubtedly one of the most vivid and memorable impressions from India.

A trip to Aurangabad is easy to make in 2 days, visiting the cave temples will be a great addition to relaxing on the beaches of Goa. Join our tours and discover the ancient treasures of India.