UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India

[minisoji]

Ajanta Caves

It was as late in the 19th century that a party of British officers discovered the Ajanta caves on the banks of the Vaghora river, Maharashtra, that of long lay buried in the debris of time.


Ajanta Caves

These 30 caves were built to offer seclusion to the Buddhist monks, who lived, taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Vihara which were the seat of learning and natural movement.

Ajanta offers a rich tapestry of images that speak of places, royalty, culture and tales of everyday life of ancient India. Many of the Ajanta caves hold panels that illustrate stories from the Jatakas. From numerous images of Buddha to nymphs and princesses and various other characters, the Ajanta engravings are an unmatched visual treat.

These caves are either chaitya halls (prayer halls), or viharas (places of residence for the monks). Cave 19 consists of a courtyard with one entrance to the cave in the form of a pillared portico. On the façade are numerous sculptures of the Buddha.

Cave 26 consists of splendid carvings of which the most impressive one is the seven meters long sculpture of the reclining Buddha-the Parinirvana, along the left side of the wall. Another magnificent marvel is the depiction from the life of the Buddha, depicting his victory over Mara or the ‘evil one’.

Tourist information

Open from 09 hours to 17 hours (except Mondays). Entry fee for those above 12 years: Rs 5. Free entry on Fridays.

Access

Locates in Maharashtra, 100 km from the city of Aurangabad, Aurangabad can be reached by flight or train or even be motored down to from Manmad. If one is adventurous enough, one can even take the road from Mumbai, via Nasik to Aurangabad.

Where to stay

Hotels are available to suit all budgets at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik, Dhule, Aurangabad, etc. The Maharashtra tourism development corporation holiday resort near Auranagabad railway station, the Ajanta travelers lodge at the caves and the Maharashtra tourism development corporation holiday resort at Fardpur (about 4 km from Ajanata ) provide clean and comfortable accommodation.

Suggested Viewing time : 2.5 hour on a guided tour.