The Ajanta Caves near Aurangabad

 


Located about 100 kilometres from Aurangabad, the Ajanta Caves is one of the main places of interest near the city. In a river bend where one of the banks is a long rock face, many Buddhist religious places were carved into the rock. The entrances are ornate and inside pillars and statues were carved out. One of the highlights is the reclining Buddha (Cave 26). From across the river, from the hilltop, you can have a great view of the whole river bend with all the caves, and a waterfall a little upstream. 

The ticket office is located near the main road, but the actual site is a bit further away, so free shuttle buses are provided. 

Map and full list of Ajanta Caves


Early Phase – Hinayana (2nd century BCE to 1st century CE)
Main features: Simpler architecture, no Buddha statues (aniconic), stupa-focused worship.
Caves 9, 10, 12, 13, 15A.

Later Phase – Mahayana (5th–6th century CE)
Main features: Elaborate facades, paintings, Buddha images, and narrative reliefs.  
Viharas (Monasteries): Caves 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Chaityas (Prayer Halls): Caves 19, 26, 9, 10.

Cave 1 – Vihara. Famous for murals of Bodhisattvas Padmapani and Vajrapani; richly painted interior.
Cave 2 – Vihara. Beautiful ceiling paintings; depictions of women, children, and Jataka tales.
Cave 3 – Incomplete. Not developed beyond a shallow excavation.
Cave 4 – Vihara. Largest monastery at Ajanta; unfinished but with a large shrine.
Cave 5 – Incomplete. Started as a monastery, abandoned early.
Cave 6 – Vihara. Two-storey structure with Buddha images and elaborately carved doorways.
Cave 7 – Vihara. Richly carved, with exquisite depictions of seated Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Cave 8 – Vihara. Very eroded and simple; mostly devoid of sculpture or paint.
Cave 9 – Chaitya (early Hinayana). One of the oldest; has a stupa but no Buddha image.
Cave 10 – Chaitya (early Hinayana). The oldest cave at Ajanta; large stupa with early inscriptions.
Cave 11 – Vihara. Simple monastery with some Buddha sculptures.
Cave 12 – Vihara (early). Plain, small cave used for monk lodging in early period.
Cave 13 – Vihara (early). Tiny, plain, and possibly used for individual monks.
Cave 14 – Vihara (unfinished). Upper level above Cave 13; abandoned early.
Cave 15 – Vihara. Small, with shrine and Buddha image.
Cave 15A – Vihara (early). Tiny and plain; barely accessible, one of the oldest.
Cave 16 – Vihara. Known for its extensive and refined murals (Jataka tales, royal figures).
Cave 17 – Vihara. “The picture gallery”; includes many complete Jataka scenes.
Cave 18 – Incomplete. Barely started excavation, no notable features.
Cave 19 – Chaitya (Mahayana). Highly ornate, with a Buddha statue inside the stupa.
Cave 20 – Vihara. Shrine with Buddha; nicely carved pillars and figures.
Cave 21 – Vihara. Simple monastery with shrine and columns.
Cave 22 – Vihara. Small and plain, contains a Buddha shrine.
Cave 23 – Vihara (unfinished). Sculptural work started but not completed.
Cave 24 – Vihara (unfinished). Large monastery, abandoned mid-construction.
Cave 25 – Vihara (unfinished). Another incomplete excavation.
Cave 26 – Chaitya. Spectacular Mahayana chaitya; includes the massive Reclining Buddha (Mahaparinirvana).
Cave 27 – Vihara. Connected to Cave 26; contains beautiful sculptures.
Cave 28 – Incomplete. Bare excavation; no detailed features.
Cave 29 – Incomplete Chaitya. Never completed; barely begun.
Cave 30 – Recently identified. Discovered in modern times, very small and unfinished.



Ajanta Caves in photos



























































































































































Popular posts from this blog

Countries

Image
     The world is yours. Where do you want to go next? Featured: Those countries are featured where posts with useful information are available—such as maps, practical details, guides, instructions, etc.—in addition to the many accompanying photos. 
More »

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Day 1: Yuanjiajie & Golden Whip Stream

Image
  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...
More »

Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map

Image
  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 
More »

Leshan Giant Buddha - Walking tour and boat ride

Image
  Located near Chengdu, Leshan is home to the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of a cliff face, the 71 meters tall statue overlooks the junction of the Min and Dadu Rivers. You can walk up to the statue’s head and look down, walk down to its feet and look up, and view it from a boat. The area also offers distant but nice city views. You could do the walk and the boat ride easily in a short day, along with a visit to the Mahao Cliff Tombs and Wuyou Temple, both located between the Giant Buddha and the cruise port. In a longer day's program you can also include a visit to the Oriental Buddha Park, a separate and fairly large attraction (separate ticket required) that is well worth seeing — see the post about the Oriental Buddha Park . 
More »