Exploring the Most Exquisite Rock-Cut Caves in Maharashtra, India

Aug 21, 2024

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Exploring the Most Exquisite Rock-Cut Caves in Maharashtra, India

The state of Maharashtra, with Mumbai (formerly Bombay) as its capital, is a region rich in history and culture. Mumbai, once an island surrounded by malarial mudflats and a Portuguese possession, became part of the English crown as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II in 1662. The British transformed the marshy area, connecting the island to a mainland, and developed it into a significant trading hub. Today, Mumbai is India’s second-largest and most prosperous city. It is the business and financial centre of India, known for its colonial architecture, museums, cathedrals, and modern skyscrapers.  Maharashtra is also home to numerous places of interest, including the world-famous cave temples of Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Karla, and Bhaja.

Ajanta: Masterpieces of Buddhist Religious Art

The Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of a group of 30 rock-cut monastery and temple caves discovered by a British hunting party in 1819. Carved out of solid rock, these caves date back to the 1st century BC (Caves 9 and 10) and the 5th – 6th centuries AD. They are famous for their detailed carvings and extensive wall paintings of ancient Buddhist art and architecture. The semicircular scarp, with a stream running below, creates a breathtaking setting.

Ellora: An Architectural Splendour

The Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches over 2 km and features a fascinating series of cave temples. These caves are divided into three groups: Buddhist, Brahmanic, and Jain. The most remarkable of these is the Kailasa Temple, a colossal Hindu temple that was meticulously carved from the top down. The construction of the Kailasa Temple alone is estimated to have involved the removal of 200,000 tons of rock.

The Elephanta Caves on Elephanta Island: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Renowned for their impressive rock-cut architecture and intricate carvings, the Elephanta Caves stand as a testament to India’s rich cultural heritage, ancient sculptural artistry, and profound religious symbolism.

Karla and Bhaja Caves: Lesser-Known Gems

The Karla Caves, dating from around 80 BC, are among the best-preserved Hinayana Buddhist caves in India. Despite their historical significance, they are less known and visited compared to Ajanta and Ellora. The Bhaja Caves, located in the village of Bhaja, are among the oldest chaitya (prayer hall) caves in Western India, adding to the region’s rich Buddhist heritage.

The Siam Society, under the leadership of Mr Euayporn Kerdchouay, Senior Consultant of The Siam Society, will organise a trip to explore these magnificent sites in Maharashtra and witness the profound historical and cultural legacy they represent. The trip will take place from Tuesday, 10 December to Monday, 16 December 2024.

When

Tuesday 10 to Monday, 16 December 2024

Leader

with Mr Euayporn Kerdchouay

Senior Consultant of The Siam Society

Booking

See information below

Or contact Khun Thun

studytrips@thesiamsociety.org

 

The tentative programme will be as follows:

Day 1: Tuesday, 10 December 2024: Bangkok – Mumbai
16:30 Meet at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Check in at the Thai Airways check-in counter
18:55 Depart Bangkok for Mumbai by Thai Airways flight TG 317
22:00 Arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
– Transfer to the hotel
Evening: Overnight at Hotel Radisson Mumbai Goregaon, Mumbai
Day 2: Wednesday, 11 December 2024: Mumbai
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Proceed to visit Gateway of India, from where the Ferry leaves for Elephanta Cave. Gateway of India is one of the architectural marvels of the country, located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, and is also an important landmark of the city. Enjoy the Cruise by Ferry on the Arabian Sea about an hour to reach Elephanta Island. The rock-cut temples on Elephanta Island are thought to have been created between 450 and 750 AD when the Island was known as Gharapuri, the fortress city. The Portuguese renamed it Elephanta because of a large stone Elephant near the shore.
– Return to the city by ferry
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Visit Prince of Wales Museum (now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya) – King George V, who as Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of this museum in 1905.
– Visit Mani Bhavan, a simple old-style, two-storied building on Laburnum Road. Whenever Gandhiji was in Mumbai between 1917 to 1934, he would stay here. It is now converted into a museum and research centre. Today Mani Bhavan is a hallowed memorial to Gandhiji, to his stay here and to the activities he initiated from here.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
– Overnight at Hotel Radisson Mumbai Goregaon, Mumbai
Day 3: Thursday, 12 December 2024: Karla and Bhaja Caves
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Proceed to Lonavala (100 km)
– Visit the Buddhist Caves sites of Bhaja and Karla comprise some of the finest rock-cut architecture in the northwest of the Deccan region.
– Visit Bhaja Caves which is composed of eighteen caves dated from the late second to early first century BC. Large portions of the façade of these interesting caves are broken and lost, but what remains is impressive. The huge horseshoe-shaped arch with rock beams that imitate wood, the simulated balustrades, the pierced-window designs and the small chaitya arches all make up an imposing façade, giving the appearance of a multi-storied and balconied structure. These caves are among the oldest in western India.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon:

 

 Visit Karla or Karli Caves. Here there are four caves of particular importance for the study of architecture from about AD 100. Cave No. 1 is a chaitya and is the largest and the best preserved one here. Cave No. 2 is a ruined three-story Ihara, with monk cells, and carvings of Buddha images. Cave No. 3 is a two-story Ihara, with monk cells, small chaitya, seated Buddha, Bodhisattvas and inscriptions.
– After that proceed back to Mumbai
Evening: Dinner and overnight at Hotel Radisson Mumbai Goregaon, Mumbai
Day 4: Friday, 13 December 2024: Mumbai – Aurangabad
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Check out of the hotel
– Sightseeing in Mumbai, visit Victoria Terminus Building – The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. Dhobi Ghat that claimed to be the world’s largest outdoor laundry. Drive past Mumbai High Court, an important seat of legal and judicial jurisprudence right from 1672, and the University Building which reflects the rich architecture and historicity of the city.
– Visit Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, Mumbai’s oldest Museum, which showcases the city’s cultural heritage and history through a rare collection of Fine and Decorative Arts that highlight Early Modern Art practices, as well as the craftsmanship of various communities of the Bombay Presidency.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Transfer to Mumbai Airport
16:55 Depart Mumbai for Aurangabad by Indigo Airlines flight 6E5392
17:55 Arrive at Chikkalthana Airport, Aurangabad, and transfer to the hotel
Aurangabad is the gateway to the World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Malik Ambar founded the city, originally called Khadki or “Big Rock”, in the early 16th century. The city is known for its medieval monuments and cultural heritage and was the seat of the Mughal Empire for a short period. Malik Ambar died in 1626 and was succeeded by his son Fateh Khan, who changed the name of Khadki to Fatehnagar. In 1653, when Mughal prince Aurangzeb was appointed the viceroy of the Deccan for the second time, he made Fatehnagar his capital and renamed it Aurangabad. Aurangabad is sometimes referred to as Khujista Bunyad by the Chroniclers of Aurangzeb’s reign.
Evening: Dinner and overnight at WelcomHotel by ITC Rama International, Aurangabad
Day 5: Saturday, 14 December 2024: Ajanta Caves
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Proceed on a full-day excursion to Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves were carved into a vertical cliff above the left bank of the Waghora River in the Ajanta hills, comprising thirty caves. The earliest Buddhist cave monuments here date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries AD), many more elaborately decorated caves were added. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a significant artistic influence.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: After the full-day excursion at Ajanta Caves, we will depart back to Aurangabad.
– Visit Bibi Ka Maqbara (Taj Mahal of Deccan) – which is a beautiful mausoleum dedicated to Rabia-ud-Daurani alias Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb’s son, Prince Azam Shah built the mausoleum between 1651 AD and 1661 AD in the memory of his mother Begum Rabia Durani. This mausoleum is a replica of the world-famous Taj Mahal. Also known as the Taj of the Deccan due to its striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum is far less ornamental than the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Evening: Dinner and overnight at WelcomHotel by ITC Rama International, Aurangabad
Day 6: Sunday, 15 December 2024: Ellora Caves – Aurangabad Caves – Airport
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Proceed to visit Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temple cave complexes in the world, with artwork dating from the period 600 – 1000 CE. It presents structures with the three faiths of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. There are 34 caves in Ellora and the interiors of these cave temples are rich in facades and sculptures.  Cave 16 features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailasa Temple, a chariot-shaped monument dedicated to the god Shiva. The excavation of the Kailasa Temple also revealed sculptures depicting various Hindu deities as well as relief panels summarising the two major Hindu epics.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon:

 

 Visit Aurangabad Caves which are 12 artificial rock-cut Buddhist Caves. Sculptural carvings of Aurangabad Caves can be compared to the best paintings of Ajanta.
Transfer to Chikkalthana Airport, Aurangabad
18:25 Depart Aurangabad for Mumbai by Indigo Airlines flight 6E5383
19:20 Arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
– Then proceed to the International Departure Hall and check in at the Thai Airways Check-in counter
Evening: Dinner at own arrangement
23:20 Depart from Mumbai for Bangkok by Thai Airways flight TG 318
Day 7: Monday, 16 December 2024: Bangkok
05:35 Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

Important notes:

– The Siam Society may utilise photos taken from study trips, lectures, performances, and other activities as part of its public relations and marketing campaign. These photos, which may sometimes contain image(s) of activity participants, can also be featured on The Society’s website and other online social media channels.

– As part of our effort to address the issue of global warming, The Siam Society strongly supports the reduction of plastic waste. We kindly recommend bringing your own water flask during the trip, if possible.

Booking:

Contribution of THB 95,000 (THB 99,000 for non-member). Single room surcharge of THB 14,000. A deposit of THB 30,000 and a photocopy of the identification page on your passport must accompany the booking. Your reservation will be confirmed as soon as the deposit has been made. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payments to cover bank charges. Payment in full will be required 30 days before the start of the trip (i.e. by Saturday, 9 November 2024). Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Transfer can also be made to The Siam Society travel account at TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), saving account no. 053-2-18000-7, swift code: TMBKTHBK or by scanning the QR code below. Once payment has been made, please e-mail the deposit or transfer the docket to us.

Inclusions:

  • The contribution includes accommodation (twin sharing basis), meals as mentioned in the programme, transfer and sightseeing coaches, entrance fees, gratuities, and other costs incurred to make this trip possible.
  • Domestic flight tickets are included in the price (Mumbai – Aurangabad – Mumbai).
  • Basic travel insurance which will only cover participants travelling from and back to Thailand.

Exclusions:

  • International flight tickets are not included in the price (Bangkok – Mumbai– Bangkok),but for those who would like us to book their tickets, it can be arranged at the time of booking.
  • Meal that is excluded from the programme (dinner on day 6)
  • Visa fees (if any), personal expenses, personal food and beverage consumptions, etc.

Please note that the flight itinerary between Bangkok – Mumbai – Bangkok as mentioned in the programme only serves as a suggestion. Trip participants can travel with their preferred airline of choice throughout the above sequence of the itinerary.

Tourist Visa Policy

Thai passport holders and foreign nationals will require a visa to enter India. However, visitors can apply for an eVisa via an online application, which is the most convenient option and can be completed from your home.

For more information, please follow the link below: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

To comply with payment and cancellation policies set forth by the tour agencies and to facilitate smooth working conditions between The Siam Society and the tour agencies, please carefully read the cancellation policies stated below:

Cancellation charges:

40 days before the start of the trip: Deposit forfeited
39-30 days before the start of the trip: 50% of the tour cost
Less than 30 days or cancellation without notice: No refund

*The cancellation charges will also depend on the date we pay the deposit to our travel agent. If we have to pay the deposit to the travel agent before the 40-day period prior to the start of the trip, our officer will send an email to inform every participant before we make the payment as only a partial amount of the deposit can be refunded after that point.

Covid-19 policy

Due to a lower number of worldwide infections, many countries have relaxed their travel restrictions and quarantine requirements regarding Covid-19.

Nevertheless, when travelling as a group, The Siam Society would like to remind you of the following measures that we have put in place:

– We suggest performing a self-administered ATK test before the commencement of the trip. Participants can also carry ATK test kits, along with their preferred set of medicines (for consumption if infected with Covid-19) with them.

– In the event that trip participants are tested positive during the trip, the group will continue to follow the planned itinerary. To ensure the health and safety of all trip participants, those who tested positive shall adhere to appropriate self-isolation measures as directed by the trip leader.

– Those tested positive with severe symptoms shall be treated in accordance with the health measures stipulated by the local government. Medical costs shall be at the expense of the trip participant(s).

For further information and bookings, please contact Khun Thun at 02-661-6470-3 ext 205, or studytrips@thesiamsociety.org. The Society’s office is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday.

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