Ajanta caves are the set of 30 Buddhist cave temples. Concealed away in the hills of North-west India, around 200 miles way from the busy roads of Mumbai, a superlative gemstone of art and religion is sited.
The Ajanta Caves shaped into the face of a mountain, appear as a horseshoe around the Wangorah River. These caves are the matchless epitomes of one of nation's distinctive artistic traditions- the rock cut temples. Some of these caves date back from the 2nd century BC. Comprising the Buddhist traditions of Theravada and Mahayana, Ajanta caves boast some of the most precious works of Buddhist art that is carved in it. These spellbinding caves are situated at 55 kms distance from the Jagaon city and just 105 kms away from Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
It is believed that the caves were constructed in two phases. The first phase had been started approximately in the second century BCE. And the second phase had been occurred from 400-650 CE. The Ajanta Caves comprise prehistorically monasteries and worship halls of divergent Buddhist traditions and it is sculptured 246 ft. wall of Rock. These caves are either Chaityas Griha – worship hall (chapels- stupa monument halls) or Viharas (monasteries with residence halls). These caves ae used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings mainly during monsoon. Ajanta Caves are excavated in the horseshoe-shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 mt height, located on bank of the river Waghur and forest ravines of the Sahyadri Hills.
