At a distance of 3 km from Bibi Ka Maqbara and 8 km from
Aurangabad Railway Station, the Aurangabad Caves are 12 artificial rock-cut
Buddhist Caves located on a hill running roughly east to west in Aurangabad.
Sculptural carvings of Aurangabad Caves can be compared to the best paintings
of Ajanta and is one of the the popular Aurangabad tourist places.
The first reference to the Aurangabad Caves is in the
great chaitya of Kanheri Caves. The caves are datable from circa 2nd - 3rd
century AD to 7th century AD. The Aurangabad Caves were dug out of
comparatively soft basalt rock during the 6th and 7th century. The caves are
divided into three separate groups depending on their location. The first group
of caves consists of cave number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the second group comprises
of cave number 6, 7, 8 and 9, while the last and the third group is made up of
cave number 10, 11 and 12. The distance between the first and second group of
caves is approximately 500 m. The first group of caves is situated on the
western side of a hill, while the second group lies on the eastern side of the
same hill. The third group of caves, outside the Aurangabad city, is located to
the east of the second group.
Cave 1 & Cave 3 are the earliest excavations here and
are probably date back to 2nd - 3rd century AD. The first clusters of Caves,
also known as Cave 1, are the incomplete set of caves with old-fashioned
pillars and obscure ornamentation. Cave 2, a square-shaped shrine resembling
traditional temples, has a mammoth image of a seated Buddha. Several other
figures of Buddha can also be seen adorned on the walls and the porch. Cave 3
is in the form of a chaitya griha of the Hinayana order, and is believed to be
the largest and the most beautiful of all. A large verandah with a huge
monastery resembles the interiors and the architecture at Ajanta. The
heterogeneous rock formation here has prevented very large scale excavations.
The remaining caves are generally ascribed to the
Kalachuri dynasty. Of all, Cave 7 is the most elaborate and famous for its
sculptural embellishments. On plan it includes a central shrine with
circumambulation with an outer corridor running all around. This corridor has
recesses at regular intervals which are carved with various Buddhist gods and
goddesses. The front wall of the verandah has very beautiful representation of
a panel of litany of Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva on either side of the
entrance to the shrine. The litany of Avalokitesvara is particularly more
elaborate from similar examples at Ajanta and Ellora.
The other important sculptural panels are of Tara, the
principal consort of Avalokitesvara, depicted to the left of central shrine
door and a group of six female musicians on the left wall of the main shrine.
The latter is particularly very famous and often taken as the representative
sculptural panel of the Aurangabad Caves. The main figure at the center is in a
dancing attitude, with the five others playing different musical instruments.
The remaining caves of the second group are of less important due to incomplete
excavations.
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM.
Entry Fee: Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 100 for Foreigners.
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