Four Ajanta caves to shut doors to tourists

Even as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) prepares to shut down four of the important caves at Ajanta to tourists due to their deteriorating condition, the state government has started creating a replica of these caves with the aid of foreign technologies at a cost of around Rs90 crore. 

Ajanta Caves [Credit: Wikipedia]

This project, said the authorities, is the first of its kind in the world, even though replicas have been made of other works of art like painting and sculptures. The project also includes five museums, mini-theatres for interactive sessions and food joints, for education and entertainment of tourists. A good part of the project is nearing completion, the officials added. “It will not only help in the conservation of the world-famous heritage site, but also attract more tourists,” said senior manager Sanjay Dhekane of the Maharashtra Tourism and Development Corporation (MTDC). 

The Ajanta caves in Aurangabad are 30 rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating back to 2nd century BC. The tourist destination attracts around 3.30 lakh visitors annually, of which at least 10% are foreigners mainly from Buddhist-influenced countries like Japan, Korea and China. 

An official involved with the implementation of the project said that the cave replicas will be a complete duplication of the original ones, including the constituents of rock that make up the caves. 

The reason for the deterioration of the existing caves is said to be increasing tourist traffic. The officials said that the project is being developed at about a 3km-radius away from the actual caves, keeping in mind environmental concerns. 

The project is being developed with a soft loan lent by Japan and is being constructed on 20,500sq m of land. “Most of the new activities will commence by August, except for the cave replicas themselves, which might be complete by March next year,” said an official from the state administration. 

Officials said that once the project is fully operational, it is expected to be handed over to a private party based on a public-private participation (PPP) model to ensure proper maintenance. 

Author: Shahkar Abidi | Source: DNA India [July 25, 2012]