The valley curve
Caves all along it.
Shishirdasika — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marcin Białek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dinesh Valke from Thane, India — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dinesh Valke from Thane, India — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dinesh Valke from Thane, India — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut monuments in a 75 m wall of rock above a green valley in Maharashtra. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their paintings and sculptures are among the finest surviving works of ancient Indian art, drawing art and history lovers. They were cut in two phases, the first from about the 2nd century BC and the second in the 5th century AD according to recent scholarship. They served as Buddhist monasteries and worship halls, and as a monsoon retreat for monks and a resting place for merchants and pilgrims. Jungle hid them for centuries until the British officer John Smith brought them to attention in 1819 during a hunting trip. A stone path follows the curve of the valley past one cave after another, with carved facades, massive pillars and painted ceilings. Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 hold the largest surviving group of ancient Indian wall paintings. Flash is banned inside to protect the colours, and some caves close at times for conservation. This is a Buddhist site, so behave with respect in the halls. It is 84 km in a straight line from Aurangabad and the road takes several hours, so leave early, and guides say it closes on Mondays. From the car park a shuttle bus runs to the site for a small fee. Wear shoes that come off easily, and bring water and a hat, as there are many steps. After the monsoon the valley is beautifully green.
Caves all along it.
The largest group of paintings.
Massive pillars in the rock.
Aurangabad district, Maharashtra
By car or tour from Aurangabad, then a shuttle from the car park.
Two days are better, as the sites lie in different directions from the city.