Location: The Cave Temples of Ajanta are situated about sixty-two miles north of Aurangabad, Maharashtra in western India.
History:The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while tiger hunting. Ajanta Caves were first mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India between A.D 629 and 645. The Caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora , which date from about 200 B.C to 650 A.D. The thirty Caves at Ajanta are set in a steep crescent-shaped hillside in a forested ravine of the Sahayadri hills, which you can explore on tours to Ajanta.
Tourist Attractions: Thirty beautiful Buddhist Caves with mesmerizing sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha's life as well the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (Place of worship) while the other twenty-five are Viharas (monasteries). Ajanta Caves are divided in two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves. You can learn more about Buddhist thought and art on tours to Ajanta, India.
Hinayana Caves: Caves number 9, 10, 8, 2,13,15 are Hinayana Caves. Cave 10 is the oldest amongst the Ajanta Caves. Cave 9 is one of the earliest Chaityas at Ajanta. Cave 2 is one of the amazing Caves depicting paintings of the birth of Buddha.
Mahayana Caves: Caves number 1, 2, 16, 17, 19, 26 are Mahayana Caves. Cave 1 has the best-preserved wall paintings. Cave 17 depicts the most unforgettable paintings of a flying apsara and the image of Buddha preaching, which are not to be missed on tours to Ajanta.
How to Reach:
Air:Aurangabad just 99 kms from Ajanta Caves is directly linked to Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur and Mumbai.
Rail:Jalgaon, a railhead on the central Railways Line, is 59 kms from Ajanta. Aurangabad is directly linked to Mumbai and Pune.
Road: The excellent road network in Maharashtra links the Caves of Ajanta with Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nasik, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Indore, Aurangabad and Bijapur. Regular bus service from Jalgaon (1½ hrs) and some direct buses from Aurangabad to the Caves are also available.
Preferred Itineraries
Mumbai Extension Tour
Ajanta and Ellora Caves Tour
Deccan Odyssey Train Tour
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