Ajanta Caves

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The Ajanta Caves are a group of rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments estimated to have been constructed from the 2nd Century BCE to about 480 CE, located in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra State in India. It is believed that the caves served as a monsoon retreat for monks, as well as a resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India.

The distant view of the Ajanta Caves

The currently identified 29 caves constitute of monasteries (Viharas) and worship-halls (Chaityas) attributed to the Buddhist tradition. The interior of the caves also contains "Dry-Fresco" (paintings on top of a dry plaster surface rather than into wet plaster) depicting the past lives and rebirths of Buddha and rock-cult sculptures related to Buddhism.

The caves which have been numbered for ease of identification based on the order they could be visited as opposed to the time of their construction have been attributed to two distinct periods.

The earliest group of caves are generally believed to be cave numbers 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A. Of these cave numbers 9 and 10 have been designed as worship-halls containing Stupas. Cave numbers 12, 13 and 15A have been identified as monasteries (Viharas). The interior painting of the caves depict stories from Jatakas (the previous lives of Buddha). These caves are estimated to have been constructed either under the patronage of the Satavahana Dynasty (estimated to have reigned from late 2nd Century BCE to early 3rd Century CE) or the Maurya Empire (Estimated to have reigned from 322 BCE to 184 BCE).

The second group of caves (cave numbers 1 to 8, 11, 14 to 29) are generally attributed to the 5th Century CE, during the reign of Emperor Harishena of the Vākāṭaka Dynasty (who reigned from approximately 480 CE to 510 CE). These caves which depict the artistic influence of the Gupta period have been attributed to Mahayana Buddhism. Cave numbers 19, 26 and 29 have been identified as worship-halls with the rest of caves been identified as monasteries.


Image gallery

Ajanta Cave 1



Ajanta Cave 2


Ajanta Cave 4


Ajanta Cave 9



Ajanta Cave 10



Ajanta Cave 16



Ajanta Cave 17



Ajanta Cave 19



Ajanta Cave 21



Ajanta Cave 26















Location: Maharashtra 431117, India

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