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Directions (161-168) : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : PASSAGE If you have time on your hands, a trip to Paithan, a few kilometers from Aurangabad, is recommended before calling it a day. It is famous for the Jaikwadi Dam and even more popular for the exquisitely woven and brightly coloured Paithani silk sarees with rich silver or gold borders. Before taking the bus back to Mumbai you must remember to pick one up! The Ajanta caves were our final destination. Located about 104 Kilometers away, it is a two and a half hour drive from Aurangabad. Consisting of 29 rock-cut cave monuments, the Ajanta caves were an outstanding display of craftsmanship, testimony to the perseverance of the artists. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, the caves house some of the best paintings and sculptures of this age, considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The frescoes on the walls of the caves are breathtakingly beautiful. Stripped of much of its grandeur with the passage of time and due to neglect, the remnants of colour on the frescoes on ceilings and walls live on as a silent witness of its heyday. The Tiger Hill close by, easily reached by car, offers an impressive panoramic view of the horse-shoe-shaped Ajanta caves and the surrounding area. As a student of history, with a special love for historical architecture, the fact that I would be left spellbound by Aurangabad is no wonder. But today when I look back, I realise that it is much more than just history that caputured my heart. It is the peaceful co-existence of the past and the present and the simplicity that the city exudes that left an indelible imprint on my mind. Being closely intertwined with history and spared from the excessive ravages of the modern world. Aurangabad and its vicinity has a distinct charming character of its own. From the text it is evident that the writer is most interested in