Source-This post on Ajanta and Ellora Caves has been created based on the article “Ajanta & Ellora now part of Swadesh Darshan scheme” published in “THE TIMES OF INDIA” on 7 February 2024.
Why in the news?
The Ministry of Tourism has recently included the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves in its Swadesh Darshan Scheme II.
About Ajanta and Ellora Caves
| Area of difference | Ajanta caves | Ellora caves |
| Location | Ajanta caves are located in the Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats). These are a series of rock-cut caves on Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. | It is located nearly 100 Kms away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra. |
| Number of caves | There are a total of 29 buddhist caves in Ajanta of which 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls while 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves.. | Ellora caves are a group of 100 caves at the site of which 34 caves are open to the public. 17 caves out of these 34 are themed around Hinduism, 12 caves depict the themes of Buddhist and 5 caves are of Jain faith. |
| Major religion | Ajanta Caves are mostly Buddhist sites. | Ellora has a better mix of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist structures. |
| Time period of construction | The caves were developed in the period between 200 B.C. to 650 A.D. | They date to the period between the 6th and 11th Centuries AD. |
| Status | UNESCO World Heritage sites | UNESCO World Heritage sites |
About Swadesh darshan scheme
Year of Launching-2015
Concerned ministry–Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Objective-To develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations in the country.
Type of scheme-It is 100% centrally funded scheme.
Provision of scheme–
1) The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to State governments, Union Territory Administrations, or Central Agencies for development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
2) State Government/UT Administration have to operate and maintain the projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
3) It has 15 themes for the development of theme-based tourist circuits throughout India.
NOTE-Some other important schemes related to tourism
1) PRASHAD Scheme
2) Utsav Portal
3) DekhoApnaDesh Initiative.
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