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Since V may be wrong in conical basket clue, I'll give all the clues and pl. solve. I have written the answers which I feel may be right. You may correct them.

1a. Ajanta and -------(6)ELLORA
1d. Hire (6)E????? (may be ENGAGE, EMPLOY, ENROLL, ENLIST}
2d. A solid, exposed surface of the earth(4)L??? (I wrote LAVA and that is why V the cutting letter in conical basket)
3d. Marauders, Looters or Plunderers(7)R?????S (may be ROBBERS or RAIDERS)
13A. Conical Basket (7) {first, third and fifth letters are third letter of 1d, 2d, 3d respectively and 7th letter is 2nd letter of 11D}
16A. Bonnet Occupants(4)(2nd letter is 5th letter of 3D and 4th letter is 4th letter of 11D)
11d.Explores, searches or seeks (6)?????S
{2nd letter is 7th letter of 13A and 4th letter is 4th letter of 16A}

Please help me to solve the above grid, mainly wrt 13A and 16A

As I suggested in your other thread, how about LAND inste3ad of LAVA?

If i put LAND instead of LAVA, what is the answer for Conical Basket (13 Across)? pl. help me.

Bharath, the conical basket may be pannier. As well as being a term for a basket, it was alo an arrangement of hoops for holding out a lady's crinoline, and so would be a conical shape. See how it fits.

Pannier would fit with employ, land and raiders

Yes - I too have 4 experimental grids going - it's a bit difficult without seeing the actual grid - Bharath is it in a newspaper or publication on the internet. Could it be a hindi word. I think you're Ellora in correct - having just had a look at the caves.

Thanks Paul, AJT, Samak and Julie for helping me out. The clue appeared in Sunday Magazine on 12.06.11 in Deccan Chronicle newspaper from India.


Now I am stuck with the clue

16A: Bonnet Occupants (4) -E--.
E is coming from RAIDERS.
If this is solved I can fix 11D which is likely to be FRISKS or PROBES

Could be bees - bee in ones bonnet.

Thanky sally and the rest AJT, Paul, Julie and samak. I could complete the crossword now. Thank you all.