Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves, group of about 20 caves carved out of the sides of a steep ravine near the village of Ajanta, in Maharashtra State, central India. The caves, discovered in 1819, are famous for their frescoes, and also contain a significant amount of sculptural work. These historic wall paintings, dating from between 200 bc and ad 650, trace the development of painting styles during that time. Most of the wall paintings are based on the Jatakas (stories of the former lives of Gautama, the Buddha), or on events in the life of the Buddha. The feeling of the kinship of all living things, which plays so large a part in Buddhism, is apparent in all the paintings. Their astonishing liveliness, their rich and subtle colours, and the consummate skill with which they were executed make them the supreme monument of Buddhist painting in India. The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.