ELLORA – ELEPHANTA-BADAMI

BY – NAYAN KUMAR PATEL

SONAKSHI BHATTACHARJEE

ROCK CUT CAVE ARCHITECTURE,INDI

A

ELLORA CAVES(5TH -13TH CENTURY

AD)

ELEPHANTA CAVES(5TH-8TH CENTURY

AD)

BADAMI CAVES(6TH-8TH CENTURY

AD)

TIMELINE

ELLORACAVES

• Ellora Caves – A World Heritage MonumentThe group of caves is prescribed by the UNESCO as a WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT in 1983.Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

• LOCATION :- 29.8 km to the north-west of the Aurangabad, on National Highway No.211.

• CULTURAL INFORMATION :-Ellora caves locally called as Verul Leni were always known to the people.• Elaganga River rises

from the nearby hills. • The excavated caves at Ellora

representBuddhist, Brahmanical and Jaina faith. They are hewn out Of the basaltic rock of the Deccan trap, and are datable from circa 6th century A.D. to 11 th century A.D.

• In all 34 caves were excavated here out of which Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist; Caves 13 to 29 are Brahmanical and Caves 30 to 34 are Jaina.

ELLORACAVES

As per NATIONAL MONUMENT AUTHORITY(INDIA)

• Statement of authenticity / integrity-

The authenticity and integrity of the World Heritage Property is maintained withoutany change since its inscription on the World Heritage List• ManagementThe monument is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and governed by its rules and regulations(Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains Act 1958 and Rules 1959)

ELLORACAVES

• tree roots above the caves create cracks and increase water seepage, which leads to wall painting and sculpture damage and eventual structural instability.

• humidity increase caused by uncontrolled numbers of visitors which leads to fungus growth, attracting insects andeventually bats.

• inadequate security encourages vandalism and theft.

• general deterioration of rock surfaces.

• minor human agencies who at times try to scribble their names on the rock surface.

• development pressures: any further developmental pressure can threaten the authenticity.

• Slope stability problems in the cave portals and inter cave slopes

CAUSES OF DETEORIATION

ELLORACAVES

• Structural conservation-• Restoration of pillars• Restoration of facades• Improving structural

integrity of caves• Prevent separation of rocks

MEASURES OF CONSERVATION

• Chemical conservation-• To arrest

weathering• Use of solvent

based chemicals

• Cleaning of paintings and sculputres• Slow and specified

work• Undertaken after

extensive research

• Prevention of water seepage and preservation of rock surface

• Using reinforced shortcrete with rock bolts.

ELLORACAVES

Visitor Management-

• Various facilities: approach road/pathway, drinking water, post office, guide facilities, books, brochures, toilets, signage, sitting benches, tree rounds.• Needed facilities: public information system, multimedia visualisation of paintings and CDs.

• Communication of WH values through: brochures and booklets, website, various cultural awareness programmes, WH day and week, print and audio media.

• Educational programmes: on occasions of WH events, school students invited and involved ineducational and creative activities.

Monitoring – Daily basis monitoring by using scientific innovative applications, such as GPS and GIS for better site management.

.

MANAGEMENTOther measures of indirect conservation-

• Upgradations of roads• Structural upgradation of nearby

airport• Augmentation of electric supply• Installation of water supply

systems• Afforestation of 237 Ha.• Improved landscaping and

parking facility

ELLORACAVES

• construction of visitor center, • arrival area,• interpretation

center, • site museum,• virtual reality hall, • restaurants, plazas &

service areas.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS

• Archaeology experts have claimed to have found the agent - aproper mix of hemp with clay and lime plaster - that has prevented the famousEllora caves from degrading over the 1,500 years they have been in existence

• In the sample collected from the Ellora cave, 10% share of cannabis sativa inthe mix of mud or clay plaster. This is the reason why no insect activity is found atEllora

• The preservation is possible because hemp regulates humidity and deters pesky insects, which have attacked older nearby artworks atthe Ajanta Caves, which were built in the second century BC and lack cannabis fibres

INTERESTING FACTS

ELEPHANTA CAVES

CULTURAL INFORMATION-• The Elephanta Caves are a network of

sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour.

• The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves: the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves.

• The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva.

• The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain.

Elephanta Caves – A World Heritage MonumentThe group of caves is prescribed by the UNESCO as a WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT in 1987.Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

ELEPHANTA CAVES

• Status of Authenticity/Integrity

The World Heritage value is considered to have been well-maintained, in spite of the need to carryout structural repairs in the caves in order to ensure the stability of the rock face.

ELEPHANTACAVES

• The threats to Elephanta Caves have been identified as the following: • developmental pressures

(mainly due to its location within the Mumbai harbor)

• anthropogenic pressure due to growth of population of the communities residing on the island

• industrial growth of the port facilities close to the island

• no risk preparedness plan to address natural calamities such as earthquake

• cyclones and terrorist attacks• unsustainable tourism and

tourist facilities on the island, and poor management of the heritage monument

THREATS

ELEPHANTACAVES

• Preservation of Elephanta Island as a whole with its monuments has been ensured both through legislation and by physical restoration of the caves and its sculptures

• The basic legislations enacted are: • The Ancient Monuments and

Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 and Rules (1959)

• The Elephanta Island (Protected Monument) Rules of 1957, which prohibits mining, quarrying, blasting, excavation and other operations near the monument

• the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act promulgated in 1972 with its Rules promulgated in 1973

• a Notification issued in 1985 declaring the entire island and a 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) area from the shore as "a prohibited area“

• a series of Maharashtra State Government environmental acts protecting the site; the 1966 Regional and Town Planning Act; and the 1995 Heritage Regulations for Greater Bombay

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

ELEPHANTACAVES

• Stabilization of the rock face• Construction of supports to

the cave structures where pillars have collapsed • Consolidation of cave

floors • Construction of a parapet

wall surrounding the site

MEASURES OF CONSERVATION

ELEPHANTACAVES

• Visitor facilities at the site have recently been upgraded, including toilet facilities, construction ofrailings, pathways and a flight of steps leading tothe caves from the jetty.

• The on-site custodian’s facilities have been upgraded and a building converted into an on-sitemuseum.

• Public information and awareness raising campaigns are envisaged to lessen the impact of mass tourism on the island.

MANAGEMENT

• Monitoring of the environmental impact of tourists on the cave and island environments is also foreseen.Monitoring Indicators• Monitoring indicators used included: (i)visual inspection (for cracks, rock falls,etc.) (ii) monitoring of relative humidityinside and outside of the caves (iii) monitoring of the air pollution levels on the island (iv) monitoring of temperature variations between the interior and exterior of the caves (v) monitoring of rainfall.

MONITORING

BADAMI CAVES

BADAMI CAVE TEMPLES-The Badami cave temples are a complex of four Hindu, Jain and possibly Buddhist cave temples located in Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in northern part of Karnataka, India. The caves are considered an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture, which dates from the 6th century. Caves 1 to 4 are in the escarpment of the hill in soft Badami sandstone formation, to the south-east of the town.The Badami caves complex is part of a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site candidate under the title "Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal" in the Malaprabha river valley, considered a cradle of temple architecture that formed the model for later Hindu temples in the region.

BADAMI CAVES

Measures of conservation

• Restoration of the column pedestals.

• Preservation of sculptures

• Consolidation of cave floors

BADAMI CAVES

Criteria of selection• Candidate for UNESCO World

heritage site.• Justification of Outstanding

Universal Value(demonstrates the finale in the evolution of cave and temple art and architecture) –• Criterion (iii)• Criterion (iv)

• Sandstone – cracking/ flaking did not occur due to minimum amount of rainfall.

REFERENCES• Author-UNESCO Centre, Article title: UNESCO World Heritage Centre,

Website title:Whc.unesco.org ,URL: http://whc.unesco.org/

THANK YOU!