Nature Knights Safari – India’s Archeological Delight
See History, Enjoy History on an backpacking eco-adventure with Nature Knights to Ajanta and ElloraCaves, Aurangabad, AurangabadCaves, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-Ka-Maqbara and Panchakki.
Schedule:
Nov 6 - night Friday (Travel in Sleeper Volvo)
Nov 7 - Early morning arrival at Aurangabad; check-in at Hotel; freshen-up and breakfast
Nov 7 and 8th - Jeep Safari Covering Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, The Kailash Temple of Ellora is dedicated to Lord Shiva; Daulatabad Fort; Panchakki; Bibi-Ka-Maqbara (A replica of the Taj Mahal of Agra); Panchakki: This 17th century water mill exemplifies the engineering ingenuity of that age.
November 8th evening – Board Sleerper Volvo for Mumbai would reach Mumbai November 9th early morning enough time to go home freshen up and in time to catch your office Monday blues.
Registration Fee Rs.2000/-; Balance 1500/- to be paid in cash.
Total Contribution Rs.3,500 plus (Includes – Mumbai to Aurangabad Volvo Sleeper Bus travel; Accomdation; Food and Jeep Safari as per destination given above).
For Registration click here
Highlights
Base Camp Aurangabad City, this city founded in 1610 by My Malik Ambar, prime minister of Murtuza Nizam Shah II, this city was renamed Fatehpur after the Nizam’s son Fateh Khan succeeded the throne in 1626. When price Aurangzeb became viceroy of the Deccan in 1653, he made the city his capital and renamed it
Highlights of places to be covered
Ajanta: This World Heritage Site is located about 107 km from Aurangabad city. Caves dating from 200 BC, these caves were excavated in two distinct phases and reportedly took more than Viharas (monasteries) used by Buddhist monks for meditation. The paintings and sculptures depict incidents from the life of the Buddha and various Buddhist divinities, with the Jataka tales, illustrating stories of Bodhisattava, being the most famous. Besides the temples and monasteries, there are magnificent murals that attract visitors from all over the world.
Ellora: About 30 km from Aurangabad are the world renowned ElloraCaves, known for their Buddhist, Jain and Hindu influences. There are 34 caves containing shrines, monasteries and temples. The BuddhistCaves were carved during the period 200 BC to 600 AD. These were followed by the Hindu caves (500 – 900 AD), and finally the Jain caves (800 – 1000 AD).
The Kailash Temple of Ellora is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the greates monolithic sculpture in the world. It is carved form a single, mammoth rock.
Daulatabad Fort: About 15 km. from Aurangabad, on the way to ElloraCaves, is the hill fortress of Daulatabad – one of the world’s best-preserved medieval forts. Once known as Devgiri, meaning Hill of Gods, this magnificient 12th century fortress was the capital of the Yadava Rulers. It was renamed Daulatabad (City of Fortune) in the 14th centure by Mohammed Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi.
Bibi-Ka-Maqbara: In 1679. Aurangzeb’s son built the inspiringly beautiful Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as a tribute to his mother, Begum Rabia-ud-Durani. A replica of the Taj Mahal of Agra, it is the only piece of Mughal architecture on the Deccan built towards the end of the Mughal Era in India
Panchakki: This 17th century water mill exemplifies the engineering ingenuity of that age. The mill, which runs on water channelized from a river 6 km. away through an earthen pipeline, was used for grinding food grains for the community kitchen. Surrounded by a series of fish-filled tanks, it also serves as memorial to Sufi Saint Baba Shah Muzaffar, the spiritual mentor of Aurangazeb.
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