AJANTA CAVES

Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries, near Ajanta village, Aurangabad district, north-central Maharashtra, western India, celebrated for their wall paintings. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 20 m ravine in the Wagurna river valley, 105 km northeast of Aurangabad. These are remarkable and world-famous man-made cave temples and monasteries.

The group of some 30 caves was accidentally discovered and excavated between the first century BC and the seventh century AD. There are two types of caves, the chaityas (sanctuaries) and viharas (monasteries). Although the sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the chaitya pillars, is noteworthy, it is the murals that are of chief interest in Ajanta. These superb frescoes and sculptures depict scenes from the Buddha's life and illustrate the popular Jataka stories about the Buddha's previous lives. There are other images, as well, of various Buddhist deities.