Distance: 451 Kms
The Ajanta Caves are situated in the Aurangabad district in Maharashtra. One of the most visited weekend getaways near Mumbai, it consists of about 300 rock cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BC to about 480 to 650 CE. The caves have a number of paintings and sculptures which have been described as the ‘finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting’ by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Ajanta Caves have been declared as a protected site by the Archaeological Survey of India and have also been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site.
The subterrane is situated at a distance of 100 km from the Ellora caves, which are a cluster of Buddhist caves and Hindu and Jain temples. Situated on the south side of a cliff that is on the south of a gorge on the River Wagura, they were built in two phases.
Those of the first period or the Satavahana period are believed to have been made during the period 100 BCE to 100 CE. These caves were said to be constructed under the patronage of the Satavahana dynasty. The caves of later period or the Vakataka period are supposed to have been constructed in the period from 460 to 480 CE during the reign of Emperor Harishena. It is believed that as many as 20 caves were simultaneously created.
The caves have retained some spectacular murals which speak volumes about the craftsmanship and skill of the artist and the culture and traditions of India at that time. The paintings found in here are of the ‘dry fresco’ type, which means that the paintings were made on a dry plaster surface than on wet plaster. The ceiling also bears beautiful and decorative motifs.