The Ajanta and Ellora caves bear an enthralling testimony of Buddhist philosophy as well as classical Indian art that existed thousands of years ago.Dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE, the approximate 30 caves of Ajanta are Buddhist cave monuments located near the village of Ajanta in the Aurangabad district of the north central state of Maharashtra in India. A British officer, while hunting tigers, discovered the caves near river Waghora by accident.Built on a horse shoe shaped cliff and hidden away in the hills of northwest India, the Ajanta caves bear many auspicious motifs related to the religious teachings of Lord Buddha as well as captivating paintings and sculptures. Be sure to visit these caves that are magnificent jewels of art and religion while visiting India.If you liked this article on Ajanta Caves facts, be sure to check out our articles on Ahmose facts and Agra Fort facts too!Ajanta Caves HistoryThe Ajanta caves are Buddhist cave temples located near the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in India. The cave paintings and sculptures of Buddhist traditions carved onto the walls of these 30 caves make for an enticing example of classical Indian art that had existed thousands of years ago.The Ajanta caves were built in two phases, a few during the rule of the Satavahana dynasty, while the rest during the Vakataka period. The Ajanta caves have numbered but based on their location instead of chronological order.The earliest of the Ajanta caves were built during the rule of the Satavahana dynasty. Referred to as Andhras in the Puranas, this ancient dynasty of India was based in the Deccan Plateau region and ruled over a prolonged period of time (from late 2nd-century BCE to early 3rd-century CE). The caves, numbered 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A, belong to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.The rest of the caves (1-8, 11, 14-29) were found to be constructed during the Vakataka period, under the reign of Emperor Harishena of the Vakataka dynasty. The last known ruler of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakataka dynasty, Emperor Harishena ruled from c. 480-510 CE. These caves belonged to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.The caves were discovered by a British officer named John Smith by accident in 1819. John Smith was a British cavalry officer who was hunting tigers by the Waghora river when he spotted the mouth of one of these Ajanta caves. He entered the cave with his hunting party and was mesmerized by the paintings on the walls of the cave.News of the find by the British officer spread rapidly and Major Robert Gill was hired by the Royal Asiatic Society in 1844 to make paintings of the wall art. 27 of his paintings were put on display in the Indian Court of the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, south London.In 1872, John Griffiths was asked to make new copies of the Ajanta cave paintings by the Bombay Government. Griffiths was the principal of the Bombay School of Art and he made 300 paintings along with his students.A renowned art patron, Lady Herringham made further copies of the cave paintings of the Ajanta caves with help from the Calcutta School of Art in 1909. The Indian art historian, Ghulam Yazdani did an extensive photographic survey of the cave paintings of the Ajanta caves during the late 1920s which was published in four volumes between 1930 and 1955.The Ajanta and Ellora caves were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983.In 1999, a team of the Archaeological Survey of India, led by Rajdeo Singh, took photographs of the art inside the Ajanta and Ellora caves using new methods developed in Japan.To reduce the footfall in the original caves, Rakesh Rathod, a Mumbai based designer, created four replica caves of the Ajanta and Ellora caves in 2013, a mere 2.5 mi (4.02 km) from the UNESCO World Heritage sites.Ajanta Caves SignificanceThe Ajanta and Ellora caves with their wall paintings, ancient monasteries, and Buddha statues possess the same significance in the history of the culture and religion of ancient India as the frescos of Pompeii to hold for Greco Roman antiquity.The earliest of the caves of Ajanta date back to 2nd-century BCE and are generally agreed by historians as possibly the only preserved records of art that can be hailed as the greatest achievements of its time. Not only are the paintings and sculptures of the Ajanta and Ellora caves make for a milestone in the development of art in India as well as that of world art, but they also offer unique and unparalleled insights into the royal life, religious teachings, and culture that existed during the ancient Indian dynasties.The sculptures and paintings of the Jataka tales, teachings of Buddhist philosophy, and legends proclaim ethics that teach us to give importance to helping distressed individuals over our own welfare and even our lives.Thus the Ajanta caves are a unique archaeological monument that has influenced subsequent artists and styles. Ajanta Caves ArchitectureThe Ajanta caves are situated on a horse-shoe-shaped cliff near the village of Ajanta in the Aurangabad district of the north-central state of Maharashtra in India. The caves are in the rocky northern wall of the U-shaped gorge of the Waghora river, in the Deccan plateau region. Located about 280 miles east of Mumbai, these caves of Ajanta are an architectural marvel of ancient India.The Ajanta caves are cut into the face of a mountain of the Deccan plateau region in the form of a horseshoe shape around the river Waghora. The caves are an instance of the unique artistic tradition of India known as rock-cut temples.The 30 caves of Ajanta are not numbered chronologically but based on their location. Cave one of Ajanta is situated on the north side of the horseshoe-shaped rock. Each cave is filled with ceiling paintings, wall murals, and sculptures dedicated to the life of Gautam Buddha.All the Ajanta caves fall into either of two categories, Chaityagriha (sanctuaries/stupa monument halls) or Vihara (monasteries with residence halls). Caves 9, 10, 19, 2, and 29 have Buddhist Stupas which have worship halls, while the rest of the caves of Ajanta are viharas.Cave number one of the Ajanta caves has a square-shaped main hall and aisles along all the sides with 14 doorways adjacent to these aisles that lead to 14 small chambers. Situated at the rear end of the hall of Cave one is a gigantic shrine of a seated Buddha. This cave of Ajanta also used to have a porch or pillared verandah that had collapsed long ago.Each of the Ajanta caves has a number of octagonal pillars. Cave one of Ajanta caves has 20 painted and carved octagonal pillars, while Cave nine has 23 pillars.Important carvings of Ajanta and Ellora cavesDeclared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Ajanta caves, as well as the Ellora caves, are places of magnificent classical Indian art. All of the caves are filled with sculptures, wall murals, and ceiling paintings of Jataka tales, different teachings of Buddha, and of ancient Indian culture.Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Ajanta caves, as well as the Ellora caves, are places of magnificent classical Indian art. All of the caves are filled with sculptures, wall murals, and ceiling paintings of Jataka tales, different teachings of Buddha, and of ancient Indian culture.Some of the most prominent pictures and carvings on the walls of Ajanta caves are.Bodhisattva Padmapani: This painting on the wall of the Cave one of Ajanta caves portray Buddha’s former existence.King Janaka And Wife: This painting on the wall of the Cave one of Ajanta caves is of King Janaka of Videha deep in conversation with his wife.On the capital of the fifth column of the first cave of the Ajanta caves are scenes depicting bullfights. Cave 17 has a painting of the Hamsa Jataka which depicts Buddha in the form of golden geese.The Painting of Persian Ambassador: A white skinned Persian ambassador is seen on this ceiling painting of the Cave one of Ajanta caves who is surrounded by dark skinned natives.Buddha Paintings: This painting in the sixth cave of the Ajanta caves show the depiction of various events in the life of Buddha.Doorway Painting: This painting, among one of the various doorway paintings in Ajanta caves, depicts scenes from kings and different communities enjoying food and wine and having a party of some sort.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 21 amazing Ajanta Caves facts on this famous world heritage site then why not take a look at 57 note-worthy America facts that everyone should know! , or Argentina map for kids: curious geography facts revealed?
The Ajanta and Ellora caves bear an enthralling testimony of Buddhist philosophy as well as classical Indian art that existed thousands of years ago.
