|
INTRODUCTION
The
monuments at Ellora are of Buddhist,
Hindu and Jain origin. Excavated in
the Scrap of a large rocky plateau,
they are remarkable examples of the
stupendous rock-cut Hindu temple of
Kailasa, elaborately out of solid
rock, with its massive pillars and
colonnades, intricate galleries,
painted ceilings and sculptures.
Kailasa is one of the world's wonders.
It is estimated that the task of
quarrying its 3,000,000 cubic feet to
rock must have taken at least a
hundred years.
In
a beautiful glade amidst Auperb
scenery are the caves of Ajanta,
consisting of twenty-five monasteries
and five temples, some of which are
2,000 years old. They are exavated in
a wall of almost perpendicular rock.
76 m high, sweeping rounded in a
hollow circle and extending a third of
a mile from east to west. Hewn out of
rock, richly sculptured and with
walls, ceiling and pillars aborned
with frescoes and intricate designs,
this cave picture-gallery is unique in
the history, perhaps in the world, is
there such an admirable combination of
architecture painting and sculpture
all in one.
|
General Section
