Ajanta Travel Guide

Hailed as one of India's greatest artistic treasures, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ajanta is the location of some of the finest examples of ancient Indian sculptures and murals, housed in 28 caves that served as a major Buddhist monastery from the second to seventh century BC. Work started on these caves in AD 400 when Buddhist monks started carving out these temples and prayer halls from the cliffs located within the Sahyadri Hills.

The rock-cut caves demonstrate the skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen had achieved several hundred years ago. The amazing thing about these caves is that both the paintings and sculptures have withstood the passage of fourteen centuries and visitors are stunned by their complexity and beauty.

It is believed that a British Army Officer John Smith discovered the Ajanta Caves when he was out hunting.