Ajanta Caves
 The Ajanta Caves In Aurangabad District Of Maharashtra, India Near Jalgaon, Just Outside The Village Of Ajinṭhā Are 29 Rock-cut Cave Monuments. The Caves Include Paintings And Sculptures Considered To Be Masterpieces Of Buddhist Religious Art (which Depict The Jataka Tales) Well As Frescos Which Are Reminiscent Of The Sigiriya Paintings In Sri Lanka. The Caves Were Built In Two Phases Starting Around 200 BCE, With The Second Group Of Caves Built Around 600 CE. The Ajanta Caves Have Been A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These Caves Were Discovered By An Army Officer In The Madras Regiment Of The British Army In 1819 During One Of His Hunting Expeditions. Instantly The Discovery Became Very Famous And Ajanta Attained A Very Important Tourist Destination In The World. The Caves, Famous For Its Murals, Are The Finest Surviving Examples Of Indian Art, Particularly Painting.

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 Location Of This Valley Provided A Calm And Serene Environment For The Buddhist Monks Who Retreated At These Secluded Places During The Rainy Seasons. This Retreat Also Provided Them With Enough Time For Furthering Their Religious Pursuits Through Intellectual Discourses For A Considerably Longer Period. The Caves Were Excavated In Different Periods (circa. 2nd Century B.C. To 6th Century A.D.) According To The Necessity. Each Cave Was Connected To The Stream By A Flight Of Steps, Which Are Now Almost Obliterated, Albeit Traces Of Some Could Be Noticed At Some Places.

Open From 9 A.M. To 5 P.M. Closed On Monday

, ,	15,Feb 2012