Tourist footfall up by 80% at Ajanta-Ellora

Japan International Cooperation Agency funded Rs 380 crore conservation project attracts tourist

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) said that the tourist turnout at Ajanta Ellora caves has gone up by 80 per cent. Tourist turnout increased from 10,000 on weekends last year to 18,000 this year.

This uptake is a result of the recent restoration and conservation project at this site which was done with a total investment of Rs 380 crore, said sources in the department.

The phase I of the Ajanta-Ellora conservation and tourism Development Plan (AEDP) went on from 1992 to 2002 and completed with a final expenditure of Rs 127.50 crore while the phase-II spanned from 2004 to 2013 with a progressive expenditure of Rs 214.18 crore against a budget of Rs 253.56 crore.

The project was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Union Tourism Ministry and was implemented by MTDC under the State Tourism department.

The Ajanta Ellora caves along with Taj Mahal and other heritage tourist sites have suffered due to negligence.  

Ajanta Ellora Caves resoration was conceived by Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest IT services provider, along with Chhaya and Chhaya Design Consultants who designed the visitors centres, which was constructed by Larsen & Tourbo.

According to the State Toursim department the visitor centres created at the cost of Rs 100 crore are first-of-its kind. The visitor centre has the replicas of the four main caves which have been created using stimulated stone technology to give shape of the stone, colouring, carving etc.

“Ajanta Visitor Centre is spread across 17,936 square metre. The centre also houses audio-visual presentations, library, cafeteria, auditorium, and an amphitheatre. Similarly, Ellora Visitor Centre has been erected in 12,090 square meter of area with similar facilities. A real life replica of Kailasha Temple of 1/10th size has been erected here,” said Sanjay Dhekne, senior manager, publicity, MTDC.

“Maharashtra Tourism is confident of translating these investments into long term assets which would not only attract revenues from foreign tourists and investments in the future but also a steady stream of foreign exchange earnings for India,” he added.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves date back to 100 BC and are popular tourist destinations amongst the foreign and domestic tourists and rank among the top 10 monuments in India visited by foreign and domestic tourists.