Rediscovered on April 1819 by a British officer, John Smith the world-renowned Ajanta Caves are situated at a distance of about107 km from Aurangabad city, just outside the village of Ajanta. Nestled in the semi-arid Sahayadri Hills above the Waghur River these Buddhist caves depict the story of Buddhism, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD.
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Ajanta were built as secluded retreats for the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas. The artwork in the caves comprises well preserved wall paintings of Boddhisattva, Padmapani and Avalokiteshvar. The location of this valley provided a calm and serene environment for the Buddhist monks.
This complex comprises 30 rock-cut cave monuments are Famous for its beautiful paintings and sculptures that depict tales of Jatakas. These caves are excavated in horse–shoe shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora.
The sculptures seen at the Ajanta Caves seem to be the result of the skilled craftsmanship of the people at the time. At Ajanta, the paintings on the walls, illustrate the events in the life of Prince Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and in the more popular Jatakas stories pertaining to Buddha's previous incarnation.
Opening Time :9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Closed on Monday
Entrance Fee : Citizens of India Rs. 10 per head.
Foreign Visitor : US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head.
STATE : MAHARASHTRA
LOCATION : The Ajanta Caves are situated at a distance of about107 km from Aurangabad city in Maharashtra. These 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.
LANGUAGE : Marathi, Hindi and English.
WHEN TO VISIT : Throughout the year. The best time to visit Ajanta is October to April. During this time the weather is pleasant and the temperature is comfortable.
CLOTHING : Light cotton in summer and ligth woolen in winter.
Historic
Nature
Temple
Ancient Place
Monuments
Unesco world heritage
Ajanta is connected by good motorable roads to all major places. There are excellent bus services provided by State Road Transport Corporation, connecting Ajanta to other nearby cities.
The nearest railhead Aurangabad is connected by rail with major cities of India. Taxis and buses are easily available from Aurangabad to Ajanta.
Aurangabad is the nearest at a distance of 103 km from Ajanta, serves as the closest airport. The airport is well connected to some major cities of the country. You can easily get taxis and buses to the reach the destination in Ajanta.
Best Season / Best Time to Visit Ajanta Caves
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