Ingredients:
Take one stone mountain.
Visiting the Cave Temples of Ellora, in Maharashtra State, India—a UNESCO World Heritage site. [Image credit this and all images: © Janine Smith & Jayalakshmy Ayyer, 2020 All Rights Reserved]
Directions:
Starting from the top of the mountain, remove 200,000 tons of solid rock, leaving behind an exquisite temple complex covered with breathtaking sculpture on a monumental scale. Lather, rinse, repeat for four centuries until you’ve carved over 100 cave temples into the rock. Let rest for 2000 years. Attempt to consume in one day.
Serves:
The human spirit.
Barb Taub 
What memories you will have from this trip, Barb! Thanks for taking time to share these splendid photos. Thinking about what they did is jaw-dropping. Looking at the photos and imagining what the place must have been in its heyday, takes my breath away. Hugs on the wing.
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As I stand someplace that people built for the ages, I can’t help wondering what we’re building today that might be around thousands of years from now. Not much, I’m guessing…
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Just barges of floating garbage…
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Oh my! This place looks amazing. I imagine, the more often you visit India, the more wonders you discover.
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You’re so right! Yesterday we were heading up to visit a couple of temples, and found another one, still standing, with an incredible view over a lake and river gorge hundreds of feet below. The temple marks the source of five rivers, and people have been worshiping there for five thousand years. It wasn’t even in the guidebooks, or TripAdvisor but our driver knew about it. Something like that happens at least once a day.
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Thanks, Barb, for the amazing photos. I recall battling …to finish the fantastically colourful ‘Midnight Children,but didn’t. A rarity for me as I like to finish a book I’m enjoying. The places depicted must have looked truly splendid years ago. Hugs x
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They are still awe inspiring. It’s an incredible feeling to walk somewhere you know thousands—perhaps millions—of people have walked before you for thousands of years. It’s a kind of connection to the past that we Americans don’t experience so often.
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That looks incredible! I can’t even imagine what it must be like to actually be there.
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Yesterday I was realizing that we’ve visited so many temples over the years, but somehow each one has something new to show us. And then, all over again, I feel connected to so many people, like history isn’t just wars and great events, but people like me who have stood right where I’m standing now.
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I think you’re right about that.
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Your recipe for Wonder (yes, must capitalize!) echos Shaw’s “You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”
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I LOVE it! GBS could be a misogynistic SOB, but darn if he didn’t nail some stuff!
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Wow! That’s quite incredible, Barb. Fabulous photos too.
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The photos are almost all from my traveling companions, Janine and Jaya. I’m just along to carry the water bottles! But not having to take the pictures does free me up to actually spend time looking around. Last night, we were waiting to watch the sun set over a stunning river gorge, and a busload of young teens arrived. They all sat with their backs to the show so they could take selfies!
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Stunning – just stunning.
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I know I’m SO lucky!
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What we build today is meant to last for 10 years? Maybe. If we’re lucky.
Seeing that must have been truly amazing.
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Exactly! Some people complain that the ruins we see aren’t “restored” to their original state, but I wonder how much will remain of what we’re building today a thousand years from now?
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Marvelous wonder!
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