Ajanta Caves

Originally posted by Hanslune

Granite! Wow! The external color was so wrong for granite, but... this is very cool! That explains the surface (plaster) and the color which really appeared to be limestone. I hadn't heard that it was a World Heritage site, either -- which means it was really really well studied.

Granite? Looks like lava like basalt....a check on the WH site also says it's 'Deccan lava'.

Ahh! I wasn't going to stick my neck out (didn't have time to research) but I wondered if the rock was associated with the Deccan Traps. And thanks for the link! Deccan material would also explain the layering as well.

(I'm sooooo articulate today. NOT!)

Howdy Byrd

I have the advantage of having been there many years ago and having grown up on an island that was made up of lava!

Cool place and my travel notes say I had a Rajma curry for lunch!

Originally posted by Hanslune
Howdy Byrd

I have the advantage of having been there many years ago and having grown up on an island that was made up of lava!

Cool place and my travel notes say I had a Rajma curry for lunch!

edit on 22/8/11 by Hanslune because: (no reason given)

Oh, Hans... I want to go traveling with you! And someday I want to go see India and the World Heritage sites there (and anywhere else I can get in!)

Wrong thread.

reply to post by Diogeneser


thank you for spotting that little creature in the background !! an amazing found, specially considering the age of the caves (and i guess the paintings) and their significant cultural and religious background.

these creatures are called 'Karyōbinga' in the japanese buddhist context. they are celestial beings, birdlike, and their appearance as well as their descriptions can take us to endless similarities - that fascinating that i think they would deserve their own thread.

here a karyobinga from a japanese stamp and one from a pendant . even though these ones are not carrying the lute, they are associated with music and belong to the family of heavenly musicians







source: onmarkproductions.com

Originally posted by Byrd

Originally posted by Hanslune
Howdy Byrd

I have the advantage of having been there many years ago and having grown up on an island that was made up of lava!

Cool place and my travel notes say I had a Rajma curry for lunch!

edit on 22/8/11 by Hanslune because: (no reason given)

Oh, Hans... I want to go traveling with you! And someday I want to go see India and the World Heritage sites there (and anywhere else I can get in!)

Best way to get over seas is to take up a position at an overseas college. Then the key sites are easier to get to than the US. I spent about two and half decades overseas and got to most places of interest, except (curse Saddam Hussein) Mesopotamia.

reply to post by bestintentions

My pleasure. Thank you for the information on the 'Karyōbinga'. One thing I am certain of is the producers of the ancient art works around the world did not put anything in their work by accident. It all has meaning and the wonderment of it intrigues me to no end.

The story goes that the Adjantha caves had been overgrown for many years when they

were rediscovered by a British army officer while out on a tiger hunt. Whilst looking through

his binoculars at the opposite hill he saw something that wasn't quite right and on going over

to that area with the hunting party the caves were found covered in vast undergrowth. His

name was apparently John Smith and in one of the caves is scratched his initials J.S.!


Worthy of note and also World Heritage sites and included in the seven wonders of India is

1) The temple's of Khajuraho (the largest group of medieval temples)

2) The Orchha temples and beautiful landscape settings

3) 1300 temple's on the hill side of Palatina

4) The Elephanta caves on an island off Bombay.