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Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves

heritage site · Maharashtra

The Ajanta Caves are a world-famous group of 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments hidden deep inside a scenic horseshoe-shaped mountain gorge in Aurangabad district.

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

The Ajanta Caves are a world-famous group of 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments hidden deep inside a scenic horseshoe-shaped mountain gorge in Aurangabad district. Hand-carved meticulously out of vertical basalt cliff walls between the 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE, the site functioned as a peaceful monsoon sanctuary for monastic scholars. The caves were lost completely to human memory for centuries, completely swallowed by dense wild jungle foliage until their accidental rediscovery in 1819. The unique cave interiors are globally known for hosting the finest surviving masterpieces of ancient classical Indian wall fresco art. The paintings utilize distinct natural mineral pigments to portray complex Jataka tales and celestial figures with incredible emotional depth.

A short history

Carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, the Ajanta caves were Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls abandoned for over a thousand years and rediscovered by a British officer, John Smith, while tiger hunting in 1819. Their wall paintings, depicting the Jataka tales of the Buddha's past lives, are among the earliest and finest surviving examples of ancient Indian painting.

Why Ajanta Caves matters

A UNESCO World Heritage Site — 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves with 2,000-year-old murals, the finest surviving ancient Indian paintings.

How many people come

8.5 lakh

monument in 2023 · ASI/tourism statistics

When to go

The prime window to explore Ajanta is from October to March for cool weather, or June to September to witness the canyon waterfall in full monsoon flow.

Why visit

Closed on Mondays. Thirty caves cut into a horseshoe bend of the Waghora, abandoned for centuries and found again by a British hunting party in 1819. The paintings are dim: give your eyes ten minutes inside Cave 1 before deciding you cannot see anything.

Cultural notes

Inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the caves represent a monumental milestone of early Hinayana and later Mahayana Buddhist architecture under the royal patronages of the Satavahana and Vakataka dynasties.

How to reach

The closest domestic air gateway is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (Aurangabad), located 100 km away. The caves are accessed comfortably by road via a well-paved highway corridor from Aurangabad, with regular state transit buses and private tourist cabs operating daily.

2 days in Ajanta Caves

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Caves 1 and 2 murals

Caves 1 and 2 murals

Day 1

Cave 19 chaitya

Cave 19 chaitya

Day 1

Cave 26 reclining Buddha

Cave 26 reclining Buddha

Day 1

Gorge viewpoint

Gorge viewpoint

Day 2

Day 2

Kailasa Temple at Ellora

Kailasa Temple at Ellora

Day 2

Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort

Day 2

Bibi ka Maqbara

Bibi ka Maqbara

Day 2

Naan qalia dinner

Naan qalia dinner

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Ajanta Caves.

1 dish

Naan Qalia

The same Marathwada speciality found near Ellora — slow-cooked mutton with tandoor naan, common in the eateries en route to Ajanta.

Ajanta Caves guide & itineraries

Ajanta Caves is perfect for

heritageculturefamily

What & where to eat

Misal Pav

Regional breakfast staples

poha

Regional breakfast staples

Ajanta site

Cave-site canteens

Simple meals and tea at the site

Maharashtrian thali

Bhakri, pithla and local vegetables

Hyderabadi-style biryani

Hyderabadi-style biryani

Deccan influence in the Aurangabad region

Nearby getaways

Aurangabad

~2 hrs

Daulatabad

~2 hrs

Frequently asked questions

What are the Ajanta Caves?
Thirty rock-cut Buddhist caves from roughly the 2nd century BCE onward, famous for their ancient murals - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Are Ajanta and Ellora the same place?
No - they are separate UNESCO sites about 100 km apart, usually combined on one trip from Aurangabad.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Ajanta Caves.

Cave 1 and 2 paintings

The finest surviving Ajanta murals

Cave 19 chaitya hall

Ornate prayer hall with a carved stupa

Viewpoint across the gorge

See the horseshoe cliff of all 30 caves

Ellora Caves combined trip

The other UNESCO cave complex nearby

Popular attractions

The places in Ajanta Caves most people come for.

Cave 1 (Padmapani Fresco)

Cave 1 (Padmapani Fresco)

Attraction

Cave 26 (Mahaparinirvana)

Cave 26 (Mahaparinirvana)

Attraction

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Ajanta Caves

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