Ajanta and Ellora

by Ranjana Sengupta

The Cave-temples at Ajanta and Ellora are without doubt one of the most remarkable sights in India. Excavated from solid rock, each temple took years to complete. The energy of the friezes, the majesty of the architecture and the detailed iconography are guaranteed to delight and astound the visitor. While the architectural feat of Ajanta is staggering, it is the paintings, with their luminous colours, grace of composition and vivid depiction of the drama of human life that have really captured the world's imagination. At Ellora, the ultimate accomplishment of rock-cut architecture is to be found at the Kailasa temple. Richly carved and embossed, the temple typifies the remarkable imagination, skill and perseverance of those who brought the temples into being over 1,500 years ago. Ajanta & Ellora is one of a series of books providing a unique visual journey to a number of key travel destinations. Featuring stunning colour photography, illuminating photo captions, accompanied by an in-depth essay on each country or place and an interesting collection of facts and figures, these books will inspire travelers to visit new places and provide a lasting record of places already seen. Each is a handsome souvenir or gift.

84 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Ranjana Sengupta has studied in London, Kolkata and New Delhi. A journalist for over two decades, she has worked in several major Indian newspapers and magazines including the Hindustan Times, the Indian Express and Sunday. She has contributed to City Improbable (Penguin Books) and Delhi, Agra & Jaipur (Eyewitness Guides). Her publications include Ajanta and Ellora (The Guidebook Company). She writes extensively on literature, travel and trends in urban life. She has lived for many years in Kuwait, Bhutan, London and Pakistan, but always comes back to Delhi.