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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:52:55 +0530
Mumbai, April 1 (IANS) Faced with the contradictory choice of preserving
and popularising the 2,200-year-old Ajanta and Ellora caves with their
treasure trove of paintings, Mumbai's architect couple Trilochan and
Anju Chhaya decided to do both.
Five kilometres away from the magnificent World Heritage monument, built
over 800 years from 200 B.C. to 600 A.D. in the austere rocks near
Aurangabad, Chhaya and Chhaya Design Consultants (CCDC) decided to
create a "prelude" to the caves.
"Think of it as a trailer to a grand epic movie. It should be
tantalising without giving anything away. Our challenge has been to
create an experience which is authentic, informative and exciting for an
increasing number of tourists who visit both the Ajanta and Ellora
caves," Trilochan Chhaya told IANS in an interview.
Authorities were watching with growing concern the steady erosion of the
caves as tourist traffic increased over the last 50 years. The caves had
remained virtually forgotten for 1,200 years until a British hunting
party chanced upon them in 1819.
cont'd....
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/april/01/art_culture/architects_create_design_marvel_to_protect_ajanta_ellora_caves.html