Twinning Agreement between Petra and Ellora
Context:
India and Jordan have signed a twinning agreement between the Ellora Caves and Petra, two of the world's most significant UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The agreement was inked following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Abdullah II in Amman.
Shared Heritage:
Both sites are renowned for their rock-cut architecture.
In both Petra and Ellora, entire buildings and temples were carved directly out of solid rock rather than being built from the ground up.
About Petra:
This is located in southern Jordan and was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom starting around the 4th century BCE.
It is known as the Rose City due to its pink sandstone cliffs.
Unlike many other rock-cut sites, Petra was a functioning metropolis of roughly 20,000 people and a wealthy trade crossroads.
About Ellora Caves:
It is locally known as Verul Leni
The caves are located approximately 30 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
They are hewn out of the volcanic basaltic formation known as Deccan Trap.
Period: 5th century CE to 11th century CE
The site comprises 34 caves excavated in a scarp, showcasing a confluence of three faiths:
Buddhist Group (Caves 1 to 12)
Brahmanical Group (Caves 13 to 29)
Jaina Group (Caves 30 to 34)
Buddhist Caves
Belong largely to Vajrayana Buddhism
Contain images of Tara, Avalokiteshwara, Maitreya, Amitabha, Akshobhya.
Triple storey is a unique feature of Ellora (Cave No. 12 is a triple-storey cave with images of Manushi Buddhas and Dhyani Buddhas)
Brahmanical (Hindu) Caves
Dominated by Shaivite themes, but Vaishnavite images also present.
Important themes of Shaivite include: Ravana shaking Mount Kailash, Andhakasuravadha, Kalyanasundara
It is famous for the Kailasa (Cave 16) which is the largest single monolithic excavation in the world.