AJANTA CAVES

Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries, near Ajanta village, Aurangabad district, north-central Maharashtra, western India, celebrated for their wall paintings. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 20 m ravine in the Wagurna river valley, 105 km northeast of Aurangabad. These are remarkable and world-famous man-made cave temples and monasteries.

The group of some 30 caves was accidentally discovered and excavated between the first century BC and the seventh century AD. There are two types of caves, the chaityas (sanctuaries) and viharas (monasteries). Although the sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the chaitya pillars, is noteworthy, it is the murals that are of chief interest in Ajanta. These superb frescoes and sculptures depict scenes from the Buddha's life and illustrate the popular Jataka stories about the Buddha's previous lives. There are other images, as well, of various Buddhist deities.

 

AGRA FORT

Fortress of red sandstone established by Mughal emperor Akbar; once sheltered the Mughal capital; located 200 km from Delhi, on the banks of the Yamuna river in the historical city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. A contemporary of Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, the fort reflects the architectural grandeur of the Mughal reign in India.

Commissioned by Akbar in 1565, the fort worked both as a military base and a royal residence. Constructed over 15 years, it reflects the emperor's strategic shrewdness. Its crescent-shaped structure covers a radius of 3 km and is enclosed within a double barricaded, 70-ft high wall. The wall has two entrances: Amar Singh Gate, the only access to the fort now, and Delhi Gate, the original entrance with intricate marble inlay. Many structures within the fort were added later by subsequent Mughal emperors, including Shah Jahan and Jahangir. The maze of buildings inside - reminiscent of Persian and Timurid stylistic features - forms a city within a city.

Among the major attractions in Agra Fort is the Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace), built by Akbar as a private palace for his son Jahangir. It is the largest residence in the complex. Moti Masjid, constructed by Shah Jahan, is a tranquil and perfectly proportioned mosque made entirely in white marble. The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) was used for receiving distinguished visitors like kings and dignitaries. The famous Peacock Throne was once kept there before Aurangzeb took it to Delhi. Near the Diwan-i-Khas stands Musammam Burj, a tall octagonal tower, residence to Shah Jahan's empress Mumtaj Mahal. In the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audiences), the emperor would listen to public petitions and meet state officials. The elegant marble walls of the Khas Mahal were once adorned with flowers depicted by precious gems. Located to its northeast is the splendid Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), its walls and ceilings inlaid with multitudinous small mirrors. The dazzling chamber was used as a boudoir by the queens.

The fort also served as a prison to Shah Jahan, when his son Aurangzeb incarcerated him, until his death. The peripheral wall, built by Aurangzeb in 1659, reinforces its penal demeanour. An emblem of Mughal might and artistry, the Agra Fort was designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nation's Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in 1983.  

ADAM'S BRIDGE

 chain of submerged sandbanks (shoals), also called Rama's bridge , located between the islands of Mannar, near north-western Sri Lanka, and Rameshwaram, off the southeastern coast of India. The 48-km-long bridge separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry, and nowhere are the shoals deeper than 1 m; therefore they seriously hinder navigation. Geologic evidence suggests that Adam's bridge represents a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. Traditionally, and as depicted in the Ramayana, it is said to be the remnant of a huge causeway constructed by Lord Rama to facilitate the passage of his army into Sri Lanka to rescue Sita. According to Muslim legend, Adam crossed there to Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka, atop which he stood repentant on one foot for 1,000 years.