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AJANTA ELLORA CAVE VISITORS FACE STINGING ATTACKS. WHY?
IF YOU'RE VISITING AJANTA ELLORA CAVES, AVOID PERFUMES, DEODORANTS, RED OR DARK CLOTHES & SMOKING TOBACCO. REMEMBER THIS FOR SAFETY OR, A 'MOOD KILLER' 'STINGING SURPRISE' MAY AWAIT YOU.
The rock cut caves at Ajanta Ellora are UNESCO world heritage sites attract lakhs of tourists every year. However, recently, they are in the news for a wrong and unpleasant reason. Some of the unsuspecting tourists are getting exposed to stinging attacks, even getting hurt.
Well, we’re not scaring you away, but this has happened before and even during the ongoing tourist season. However, with proper precaution, you may avoid the attack. What’s the nature of the attack actually? Why are they occurring and how to avoid them?
A must read news report, for those planning a trip.
(INDIAINPUT BUREAU)
Ajanta Ellora caves are world known archaeologically very important sites located in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district. Ajanta caves are about 102 km away from Aurangabad city, now known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (CSN city) on Jalgaon road. The CSN city is about 333 kilometers from Mumbai. Ajanta caves are, on an average, visited by several lakh tourists every year during the tourist season.
The world-famous Ellora Caves feature Hindu, Bhuddist and Jaina monuments. According to reports, in 2022, Ellora caves were the second most visited monument by domestic visitors in the Aurangabad circle in India.
STINGING ATTACKS AT AJANTA
Ajanta caves recently witnessed a shocking incident in which twenty tourists and six officials were hurt. The reason was a honey bee attack. Such incidents are not new and have taken place earlier in Ajanta, Ellora and Pital khora areas.
According to officials at Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), several such incidents have taken place during summertime which is also the prime season for tourists.
Imagine the plight when unsuspecting people arrive to witness the archaeological heritage sites dating back over thousand years, and all of a sudden, some of them have to go through the unpleasant experience. Well, actually, the presence of honey bees and their hives in the hilly and forest area is natural. The moot question is, ‘Why are the bees getting angry?’
THE REASON BEHIND THE ATTACKS
Recently, the ASI officials conducted a survey on what makes the bees angry? They were surprised to find that tourists wearing red, dark or flashy outfits were the ones triggering the attacks. Also, those tourists letting out tobacco smoke or using strong perfumes or deodorants on the body were also the prime causes setting the bees off, triggering the stinging attacks.
Scientifically speaking, as the temperature crosses 34 degree Celsius, the odor of chemicals like Methylene Chloride or Freon gets stronger. Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane) is a colorless and volatile liquid with sweet odor still being used in chemically manufactured perfumes. The chemical Freon is mostly used in deodorants. Consequently, the situation is flaring up with the summer heat in the Marathwada region nearing forty degrees.
Another trigger point behind the bees getting annoyed, is the red or flashy colored outfits worn by the tourists. Studies claim that bees are actually not attracted to trees with red hues. Darker colors such as red, appear black to the bees or as absence of any color to them. Experts say, the bees instinctively perceive dark colors as a threat or a menace. This explains, why the bees are generally triggered for an attack on seeing significantly large objects in red or darker colors approaching.
Experts say, smoke makes bees perceive fire. It causes them to prepare to leave their hive believing it to be on fire. This makes them inclined to prepare to go find a new home and hence they begin consuming an unusually high amount of honey for their perceived fresh energy needs.
“DON’T ANGER THE BEES!”
The tone of the message by the ASI is clear. “As you begin to enjoy your trip, please do not ignore the moods of the bees and their dislikes. Avoid things that don’t work well for the bees. Don’t anger them for your own safety and that of fellow tourists!”
Obviously, nobody likes a mood killer. Not even the bees.
For more on finding tourist destinations, you may visit the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official website: https://asi.nic.in
