| Subject | Study Tour |
| Visit to Aurangabad | Commemorating the lost treasure: Ajanta Caves |
| Session | 2019-20 |
| Year | 1st |
| Date | 18th to 24th December, 2019 |
| Semester | Sem 1 |
| Faculty | Subject Coordinator: Associate Professor Sasmit Acharekar Faculty Team: Accompanying in Study Tour Mahesh Naik, Danish Kharti, Madhurima Das, Reshma Sathe, Sasmit Acharekar |
| Location | Aurangabad |
Objectives of the Visit: Commemorating the lost treasure: Ajanta Caves
The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.
The Ajanta Caves were a sanctuary for Buddhist monks that was forgotten, along with its stunning riches, for nearly 1,500 years. Until in the year 1819, John Smith, a young British cavalry officer, who was on a tiger hunt, accidentally spotted the mouth of one of the caves, believing that it could only have been man-made.
To celebrate 200 years of Ajanta caves re-discovery marks the year 2019-20 extremely important in the history of art and conservation. Unknown for more than 1,000 years except to wild animals, insects, flood waters, prodigious foliage and perhaps the local Bhil people, this magnificent work of art, architecture and contemplation was abandoned by those who created it as long ago as AD 500.
To remember an enduring saga of cave paintings and sculptures, we decided to conduct academic study tour from 18th to 24th December, 2019 to Aurangabad and its historic precincts for the 1st year students of 2019-20 batch and pay tribute to this legacy.
The places which were covered under the 5-day visit were, Aurangabad caves (ASI site), UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Talab (stepwell) and Daulatabad fort.
Tour Intentions: The Study Works
The Intentions of the study tour were to study, document and sketch the architectural elements which went into building the ancient caves, forts, temples and paintings.
The students were introduced to Buddhist-Jain-Hindu style temple architecture, which covered different elements like Shikharas, Mandapas, Garbha Griha, Sabha Mandapa and Pradakshina.
Students were sensitized towards the construction techniques which went into building the Rock-cut caves; usually carved out of a single piece of rock. Also, the caves merging smoothly into the unbuilt environment making it a beautiful amalgamation was observed.
Various paintings and sculptures were studied to understand colour combination, symmetry, scale and proportion. Lastly, the takeaway for the students was getting to know the rich history which went behind building one of the largest and unconquerable forts of that time.
One of the important agenda of the visit was to learn documentation, how to do measure drawings on site and lastly, to understand different methods of surveying and tools involved.
Documentation, team building and coordination was the outcome which was achieved.
The Design Studio: Architectural Design Sem-2
Further to remember an enduring saga of cave paintings and sculptures at Ajanta caves, the student studies the entire setting and context of the cave’s location. This was followed by selection of the site for architectural design studio – Semester – 2 at Ajanta itself. The famous point (Site) which is possibly the location from where John Smith, a young British cavalry officer first spotted the hidden arena of Ajanta caves, was chosen as site of the design Studio. The site located right at the topmost viewpoint facing the Ajanta caves, overlooking the Waghora (tiger) river.
The design studio at Sem-2, inquire in to the personality and personal life of an renowned Artist, of student’s choice. Understand the personal habits, hobbies, nature and daily activities of the Artist and future design a retreat for the artist at the above selected site.
