Page 35 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL SIGHTS

Ladder at the entrance to a rock-hewn kiva, Bandelier
National Monument, USA
Bandelier’s
Close-up of a Buddha statue inside the Longmen Caves, China
Longmen Caves, Rock-cut Kailasa Temple, Carpenter’s Caves, India

Henan Province Pueblos Carpenter’s

Caves, Ellora
NEED TO KNOW NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION In the province 3644*" LOCATION In Bandelier
of Henan in north-central National Monument, 15 miles $ "/"%" NEED TO KNOW
China, 8 miles (13 km) south (23 km) south of Los Alamos in
.0/(0-*"
of the city of Luoyang New Mexico LOCATION At Ellora, 19
#"/%&-*&3 miles (30 km) from the city of
DATE OF #FJKJOH DATE OF /"5*0/"- /FX :PSL 1",*45"/ /&1"-
CONSTRUCTION -0/(.&/ $"7&4 CONSTRUCTION .0/6.&/5 8BTIJOHUPO % $ Aurangabad in the state of %FMIJ
Maharashtra, India
Late 5th century 4IBOHIBJ 12th to 16th centuries */%*" ,PMLBUB
to late 9th century $)*/" DAYTIME -PT "OHFMFT 6 4 " DATE OF
CONSTRUCTION &--03"
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES 7th to 11th centuries .VNCBJ
Jan: 34°F (2°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); )POH ,POH Jan: 28°F (-2°C); Apr: 45°F (7°C); (VMG PG "SBCJBO #BZ PG
#FOHBM
Jul: 82°F (28°C); Oct: 61°F (16°C) Jul: 68°F (20°C); Oct: 50°F (10°C) .&9*$0 .FYJDP DAYTIME 4FB
TEMPERATURES #BOHBMPSF $IFOOBJ
Jan: 70°F (21°C); Apr: 86°F (30°C);
Jul: 79°F (26°C); Oct: 77°F (25°C) 43* -"/,"
Construction first began on the Longmen caves Set above the Pajarito Plateau amid mesas, canyons,
in AD 495, under the Northern Wei Dynasty, and and chasms, Bandelier National Monument boasts
spanned four Chinese dynasties and over 400 years. a spectacular setting. The park comprises rock Ellora’s famous “caves,” which are actually a series
The site consists of over 1,300 grottoes and 400 dwellings, kivas (circular ceremonial structures), of temples and monasteries carved into the side
pagodas, and spreads for a half-a-mile (1 km) on rock paintings, and carvings, and provides a rare of the Charanadari Hills, represent the apogee
both sides of the Yi River. Inside the caves are glimpse into the lives of the Ancient Puebloan of Indian rock-cut architecture. They are unique
nearly 100,000 Buddhist statues of all shapes, people of the Southwest. Though the Puebloans for their large size, architectural mastery, and
styles, and sizes. The smallest of these measures mysteriously abandoned the site – probably due above all, for representing, side by side, three of
less than an inch and the largest, carved for the to changing climatic conditions – the ruins are India’s major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, is nearly very well preserved and many of them have been Jainism. Set on an ancient trade route, the 34
60 ft (18 m) high. The caves are considered an icon fully excavated. A well-marked, 1-mile (1.6-km) monuments saw merchants, priests, and pilgrims
of Buddhist art, and one of the greatest religious, circular trail leads visitors past cliff houses, cave refresh themselves both physically and spiritually
historical, and cultural masterpieces of China. dwellings, and communal stone structures. on their way to the ports of India’s western coast.

Practical Information Practical Information Practical Information
Getting There and Around Luoyang is linked to some of China’s major Getting There and Around There are no bus or train services to Bandelier Getting There and Around Aurangabad is connected to some of India’s
cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, by air, train, and road. Taxis can National Monument, but cars can be rented from Los Alamos, Albuquerque, major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, by air, rail, and road. Taxis to the
transport you from Luoyang to the caves. and Santa Fe. Albuquerque is the nearest commercial airport. site are available from nearby towns.
When to Go Spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) have the best weather. When to Go Spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) are the most pleasant When to Go Plan your visit for the winter (Oct–Feb), when temperatures
Website www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang times to visit, weather-wise. and humidity are lower.
/longmen.htm Website www.nps.gov/band Website www.indiaforvisitors.com/states/maharashtra/ellora.htm

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