Architects create design marvel to protect Ajanta-Ellora caves

Apr 1, 2007, 9:54 GMT

Mumbai, April 1 (IANS) Faced with the contradictory choice of preserving and popularising the 2,200-year-old Ajanta and Ellora caves with their treasure trove of paintings, Mumbai's architect couple Trilochan and Anju Chhaya decided to do both.

Five kilometres away from the magnificent World Heritage monument, built over 800 years from 200 B.C. to 600 A.D. in the austere rocks near Aurangabad, Chhaya and Chhaya Design Consultants (CCDC) decided to create a 'prelude' to the caves.

'Think of it as a trailer to a grand epic movie. It should be tantalising without giving anything away. Our challenge has been to create an experience which is authentic, informative and exciting for an increasing number of tourists who visit both the Ajanta and Ellora caves,' Trilochan Chhaya told IANS in an interview.

Authorities were watching with growing concern the steady erosion of the caves as tourist traffic increased over the last 50 years. The caves had remained virtually forgotten for 1,200 years until a British hunting party chanced upon them in 1819.

Built by chiselling through the enormous horseshoe shaped hard rock on the Waghure River the 30 caves were ancient resting places for Buddhist monks traversing the length and breadth of the country to propagate Buddhist philosophy.

The caves consist of 'viharas' (cells to rest) and 'chaityas' (prayer halls) and are full of stunning Buddhist style paintings that encapsulate the life cycles of Gautam Buddha known as Jataka Tales.

'When we look at the Ajanta and Ellora caves we are really looking at the evolution of nearly 1,000 years in terms of culture. Paintings, jewellery, costumes, culinary rituals, fashion have all been depicted in these paintings. As an architect my biggest challenge was to offer visitors a complete overview of this grand spectacle without really trying to impress them with my design. I approached the project with a great deal of humility,' he said.

The project Trilochan Chhaya is talking about is a joint endeavour of the Archaeological Survey of India, the Indian government, tourism ministry, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corp (MTDC), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The Rs.1 billion-plus project aims at cushioning and significantly minimising the impact of tourism on the UNESCO heritage without in anyway controlling tourist inflow. In order to eliminate a large influx of polluting buses and other private vehicles the architects have created a 'prelude' to the caves.

However, before embarking on the prelude, the authorities went about providing infrastructure in and around the caves with new roads, electricity lines, afforestation and transportation.

A one-armed helical spiral galaxy-like structure is now taking shape away from the caves where designers plan to offer a multi-media experience built around replicas of four caves. Stories, drawn from the history of the monument, will be narrated using multi-media techniques.

Trilochan Chhaya said he has taken care to see that his team does not try to indulge in 'showing off' and approaches the whole project with 'humility and a sense of paying tribute to the ancient masters'.

Paintings and carvings from the caves are being replicated and placed in the upcoming building with the specific purpose of 'satiating' people's curiosity before they reach the actual heritage site.

'We believe this approach will help in preserving the original masterpieces. Additionally, we are also creating a sort of sculptor's studio that will sell replicas of the cave structures and paintings. This too will help deflect unwanted attention to the actual monument,' he said.

The whole experience at the new building will begin at the Orientation Centre, which will prepare tourists on what to expect.

Located under a hundred foot dome resting on a cylinder, the centre will house a cyclorama projector which can create a powerful audio-visual experience. Then there is the replica of the caves with replicas of the famous paintings. The third element will be the multimedia centre embedded between the cave replicas.

While the Ajanta Visitor Centre concentrates on the paintings, the Ellora version focuses on the actual cave structure. Together they offer a comprehensive insight into centuries of cultural evolution. Both complexes will have a series of short films being played in loop, offering the visitors a continuing primer on the history of what they are about to enter.

The designers have ensured that they incorporate the four famous features of the region such as the Paithani saris, Himru linen, black metal Bidri work and stoneware as part of the experiences. Local artisans will make these products at the site.

Unlike some of the more popular tourist sites such as the Taj Mahal, what is unique about the Ajanta and Ellora caves is that they offer through sculptures and paintings a dramatic glimpse of life in India over eight centuries. To that extent the caves are unrivalled.

As part of their plan to retain thematic consistency, the design firm CCDC, which has also been contracted by the Airport Authority of India and the ministry of civil aviation, has created a modern new design for the new Aurangabad airport. It is expected to become operational in one and half years.

'The idea is to offer anyone coming to Aurangabad a sense of having entered a place of extraordinary history right from the airport. It is a fusion of the modern shell with traditional interiors depicting a changing and modernising face of the city,' Anju Chhaya said.

The Ajanta and Ellora Visitor Centre has the potential to emerge as a model for preservation for a large number of heritage sites not just in India but also all over the world.

A team of British experts that saw the project design went back thoroughly impressed with the idea that perhaps Britain 's famous Stonehenge, the Neolithic and Bronze Age monument dating back to 2500 B.C. could use a similar preservation solution.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service