Sherman's Travel

While Peru’s Machu Picchu – the mystical ruins of a gravity-defying 15th-century Incan citadel, perched high atop the verdant Andes – might get all of the glory, the country’s northern coast beckons archaeological buffs further afield with ancient sites standing in testimony to the once flourishing civilizations of the Moche and Chimú, which pre-date even the Incas. Read more

The Taj Mahal may get all of the glory, but it’s India’s ancient Ellora and Ajanta caves – designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dating back some two millennia  – that are the country’s true star attractions. These underrated archaeological wonders are brilliant examples of cave temple architecture, showcasing an artistic and architectural legacy brimming with exquisitely carved sculptures, magnificently detailed wall paintings, and ornately fashioned chambers, pillars, and facades, all painstakingly carved into cliff faces by devout ancient Indian craftsmen.

The caves have remained relatively undiscovered and under-promoted to foreign travelers (though the word is widely out to local Indian tourists, who swarm the place on weekends and holidays), but those willing to make the effort to access the far-flung site, set outside of the city of Aurangabad (a one-hour flight from Mumbai), can tap into their inner Indiana Jones at India’s best-kept secret.

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