Category: ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Job Search Ajanta Caves are the rock-cut caves which mainly belong to the followers of Buddha. There are many paintings, idols, and other structures that were built in 2nd century BCE and the construction was done till 480CE or 650CE. There are tales depicted in pictures which are related to the rebirth of the Buddha. This tutorial will let you know about the history of the caves along with the structures present inside. You will also get the information about the best time to visit it along with how to reach the caves. Audience This tutorial is designed for the people who would like to know about the history of Ajanta Caves along with the interiors and design of the caves. The caves are visited by many people from India and abroad. Prerequisites This is a brief tutorial designed only for informational purpose. There are no prerequisites as such. All that you should have is a keen interest to explore new places and experience their charm.

Ajanta Caves – Nearby Places Ajanta caves is very popular among the tourists and many of them come from various places in India and abroad to visit the caves and know about their history. Besides these, there are many other places which the tourists can visit nearby Ajanta caves. Some of these places are as follows − Kailasanatha Temple Kailasanatha Temple is a Hindu temple located in cave 16 of Ellora caves. The temple was built from a single rock and depicts the Kailash parvat or Kailash hill where Lord Shiva resides. The temple has a pyramidal structure and has images of many deities. The temple also has an image in which Lord Vishnu has taken an incarnation in the form of a man-lion and fighting with a demon. Bibi ka Maqbara Bibi ka Maqbara is also known as Taj of Deccan. It was built by Aurangzeb in the memory of his wife Rabia ul Daurani also known as Dilras Banu Begum. The mausoleum was built with white marble on a square platform. There are four minarets, one each at its four corners. A museum is also there on the rear side of the monument which has items used in Mughal period. Aurangabad Caves Aurangabad Caves are situated between Satara and Sihyachal mountain ranges. These caves have the temples which were built in between 6th and 8th centuries. The temples in the caves were built on the basis of Buddhist architecture. There is a popular shrine that is based on Sutosama Jataka. Daulatabad Fort Daulatabad Fort is situated on a 600 feet high hill. The construction of the fort is based on the forts constructed on ground and hills. Three walls, known as kots, surround the fort so the fort is considered as one of the most power forts. Bhadra Maruti Temple Bhadra Maruti Temple is located in a town called Khuldabad. It is a Hindu temple where people assemble especially during the festival of Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami. The idol of Hanuman is installed here in sleeping posture. On Saturdays, people come from Aurangabad come here on foot to perform puja.

Ajanta Caves – Overview Ajanta Caves are situated in Aurangabad city in Maharashtra state of India. The caves were built in two phases. The first phase started from around 2nd BCE and the second phase started from around 480 or 650 AD. The caves mainly belonged to Buddhists as there are many pictures, idols, and pictorial tales that tell about Buddha and his rebirth. Aurangabad Aurangabad city is located in Maharashtra state and was named after the Mughal emperor Aurungzeb. There are many monuments in and around the city which the people can visit. Malik Amber was the founder of the city in 1610. Malik Amber was the Prime Minister of Shah Nizam who made Khadki as his capital. After the death of Shah Nizam in 1626, Fateh Khan succeeded him and changed the name of the place to Fatehnagar. In 1633, Mughals captured Fatehnagar and Daulatabad and Aurungzeb was appointed as the viceroy of Deccan. Aurungzeb made Fatehnagar his capital and renamed it as Aurangabad. Visiting Hours Ajanta Caves are opened for the tourists from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Tourists can visit the caves on all days except Mondays. It takes around two to three hours to visit the caves as there are many things to see inside. Tickets Tourists have to pay an entry fee in order to visit the caves. Indian tourists have to pay Rs. 10 whereas the foreign tourists have to pay Rs. 250. If tourists want to carry still camera or video camera, they have to pay Rs. 25 extra. There is no charge for the children who are below 15 years. Best Time to Visit The period of June to March is the best time to visit the caves as the climate is very pleasant. In the remaining months of April and May, the temperature is very hot and the climate is unsuitable for visiting the caves. Where to Stay? The city nearest to Ajanta Caves is Aurangabad which is around 99km away. There are more than 200 hotels in Aurangabad that range from inexpensive hotels to expensive five-star hotels. Some of these hotels are as follows − Five-Star Hotels VITS Hotel located at Station Road Welcom Hotel Rama International located at Chikhalthana Ambassador Ajanta located at Cidco Vivanta by Taj Aurangabad located at Rauza Bagh Four-Star Hotels Lemon Tree Hotel located at Chikhalthana Keys Hotel The Aures located at Kranti Chowk Hotel Windsor Castle located at Cidco The Meadows located at Mitmita Hotel Gurjas located at Vinayak Patil’s Chowk Three-Star Hotels Hotel JP International located at Narailbag Hotel Green Olive located at Bhagya Nagar The Manor Hotel located at Osmanapura Kranti Chowk The Sky Court located opposite Railway Station Hotel Avon International located at Jalna Road Budget or Two-Star Hotels Hotel regal Plaza located at Bansilal Nagar Vijay Residency located at Cidco Hotel Admiral Suites located at Osmanapura Hotel Manmandir Executive located at Adalat Road Hotel Pearl located at Samarthnagar Cheap or One-Star Hotels Hotel Sparkling Pearl located at Cidco Hotel Venkateshwar located at Rokadia Hanuman Colony Hotel Deepali Executive located at Cidco Hotel Indradeep Executive located at Station Road Hotel Sahara located at Jalna Road

Ajanta Caves – Description of Caves There are around 29 caves on the site and the description of each one is as follows − Cave 1 and Cave 2 Cave 1 is a monastery having a hall with 14 cells. The hall also have sanctuary and a verandah whose dimension is 10.5 x 2.82 x 4.1m. There is a courtyard with two cells, one on each side. There is a statue of Buddha that is seated in the mudra of dharma chakra parivartana Cave 2 has the dimensions of 35.7 x 21.6. The cave includes cells, sanctuary, and subshrines. There is a statue of Buddha who is seated in the mudra of dharma chakra parivartan. Each sub-shrine has a painting of Yaksha known as Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi. Along with it, the figures of Panchika and Hariti can also be found. The ceiling is painted with Jataka tales. Cave 3 to Cave 5 Cave 3 has the dimensions of 10.08 x 8.78. The cave is an incomplete monastery and only a pillared verandah can be found here. Cave 4 is a monastery in square shape and has a hall, a sanctuary, and a pillared verandah. The dimensions of the monastery is 35.08 x 27.65m. The frame of the door is carved with Bodhisatva and eight great perils. Cave five is an incomplete monastery whose dimensions is 10.32 x 16.8m. The frame of the door is carved in a sophisticated manner. Female figures can also be found in the cave. Cave 6 Cave 6 is a monastery having double storey and has the dimension of 16.85 x 18.07m. A sanctuary and a hall can be found on the first floor. The second floor has a hall with cells, sub-cells and sanctuary. Along with these, there is a statue of Buddha installed in both sanctuaries. The statue shows that Buddha is teaching his disciples and followers. Paintings of Sravasti and Mara’s Temptation can also be found here. Cave 7 and Cave 8 Cave 7 has the dimensions of 15.55 x 31.25m. The cave has a sanctuary along with a hall with two small verandahs. The ceiling of the hall is supported by pillars having octagonal shape and has eight cells. The sanctuary has a statue of Buddha preaching to his disciples. Paintings of Buddha under the presence and protection of Nagamuchanda is also there. Cave 8 has the dimensions of 15.24 x 24.64m. It is an incomplete monastery and is considered as one of the earliest caves. Some portions of the cave were ruined due to a landslide. Cave 9 and Cave 10 Cave 9 is a chaitya griha having the dimensions of 18.24 x 8.04m and belongs to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. The cave has a door with two side windows, and a central hall. The aisles in the hall are separated by 23 pillars. The hall also has a stupa for worshipping. Cave 10 has the dimensions of 30.5 x 12.2m having two aisles on each side which are divided by 39 octagonal pillars. There is also a stupa where the followers used to worship. The paintings in the caves depict the stories of Sama Jataka and Chhaddanta Jataka. One of the paintings belong to 2nd century BC while the other belongs to 4th to 8th century. Cave 11 and Cave 12 Cave 11 is a monastery having the dimensions of 19.87 x 1735m. The cave has a hall with long bench and six cells. The verandah in the cave is pillared and has four cells. The statue of Buddha can be found in the sanctuary. An incomplete stupa can also be found in the cave. Cave 12 is a Hinayana monastery having the dimensions of 14.9 x 17.82m. The hall has twelve cells arranged on its side. The first wall of the hall has collapsed. An inscription on the wall tells that a merchant named Ghanamadada gifted this cave during the period of 2nd century BC to 1st century BC. Cave 13 to Cave 15 Cave 13 is a Hinayana monastery having a collapsed façade and a square hall. Rock-cut beds can be found in the three cells. These cells are located on each side of the hall. Cave 13 is one of the earliest caves that was found during excavation. Cave 14 can be found above cave 13 and is a monastery whose dimensions is 13.43 x 19.28m. It is an early Mahayana Vihara which has sala bhanjikas on the corners of the doorway. Cave 15 is a monastery that belongs to Hinayana sect of Buddhism and was built in 5th century AD. The dimensions of the cave is 19.62 x 15.98m. The cave has a verandah, a hall and a shrine having many images of Buddha. Cave 15A and Cave 16 Cave 15A is the smallest cave in Ajanta. It has a central hall with three cells, one on each side. There was an inscription on the front wall. The chaitya window in the hall is built according to vedica pattern. Cave 16 is a monastery of Mahayana sect of Buddhism. There is a painting in which it is shown that Princess Sundari is very happy when she came to know that her husband, Nanda, is going to become a monk. Nanda was the half-brother of Buddha. Cave 17 Cave 17 is a monastery that belongs to Mahayana sect. The caves has many paintings on the doors, walls, and ceiling. The ceiling has the paintings of musicians and maidens while paintings of Buddha, lotus petals, goddesses and other paintings were made on the door. One painting shows King Simhala fighting with ogresses who ate humans. Another painting shows the flying gods with their apsaras. There are seven statues of Buddha seating with the future Buddha. Each statue is seated under a Bodhi tree. Cave 18 and Cave 19 Cave 18 is rectangular in shape having the dimensions of 3.88 x 11.66m. The hall has two pillars having moulded bases and octagonal shaft. Cave 19 is a chaitya

Ajanta Caves – History Ajanta Caves were built in two phases and they have around 29 caves to be seen. The caves are numbered in order to identify them but that does not mean that they are constructed in the chronological order. Caves constructed during Satvahan Period The caves 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A were constructed during this period and are considered as the earliest caves. These caves belong to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Out of these caves, cave 9 and cave 10 have Buddhist Stupas which have worship halls and caves 12, 13, and 15A have viharas. Caves constructed during Vataka Period According to the historians and various studies, it has been found that second phase of the construction of Ajanta caves started during the reign of Harisena, a king of Vataka dynasty. The caves constructed during this period belonged to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. The caves that were constructed during this period are 1 to 8, 11, and 14 to 29. Out of these caves, 19, 26, and 29 are chaitya grihas and rest are viharas. After the death of Harisena, construction of the caves came to a halt but were in use. Though some historians say that Buddhist used the caves but no stable community was present there. Discovery of the Caves John Smith discovered the caves in 1819 during his hunting campaign. While moving around, he came to cave 10 and then asked the villagers to remove the jungle that grew around the cave. Within a few decade, the caves became popular due to the paintings present inside. Nizam of Hyderabad converted the place into a museum. Roads were also built during his reign and tourists were allowed to see the site by paying a small sum of money. This led to deterioration of the site but after independence, the caves came under government of Maharashtra which took measures to stop deterioration. History of Paintings There are several paintings that can be found in the Ajanta caves. People can mostly find Mural paintings that were made during both the phases. Ancient paintings show that they were made during the Satvahana period. Some of the caves have the paintings of Gupta period and later. Ajanta frescos are classical paintings made on dry plaster surface. The paintings were elaborately made with distinguishing features. The ceilings of the caves were also elaborately decorated. Cave 1 has the paintings of Jataka tales which is related to previous lives of Buddha.

Ajanta Caves – Quick Guide Ajanta Caves – Overview Ajanta Caves are situated in Aurangabad city in Maharashtra state of India. The caves were built in two phases. The first phase started from around 2nd BCE and the second phase started from around 480 or 650 AD. The caves mainly belonged to Buddhists as there are many pictures, idols, and pictorial tales that tell about Buddha and his rebirth. Aurangabad Aurangabad city is located in Maharashtra state and was named after the Mughal emperor Aurungzeb. There are many monuments in and around the city which the people can visit. Malik Amber was the founder of the city in 1610. Malik Amber was the Prime Minister of Shah Nizam who made Khadki as his capital. After the death of Shah Nizam in 1626, Fateh Khan succeeded him and changed the name of the place to Fatehnagar. In 1633, Mughals captured Fatehnagar and Daulatabad and Aurungzeb was appointed as the viceroy of Deccan. Aurungzeb made Fatehnagar his capital and renamed it as Aurangabad. Visiting Hours Ajanta Caves are opened for the tourists from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Tourists can visit the caves on all days except Mondays. It takes around two to three hours to visit the caves as there are many things to see inside. Tickets Tourists have to pay an entry fee in order to visit the caves. Indian tourists have to pay Rs. 10 whereas the foreign tourists have to pay Rs. 250. If tourists want to carry still camera or video camera, they have to pay Rs. 25 extra. There is no charge for the children who are below 15 years. Best Time to Visit The period of June to March is the best time to visit the caves as the climate is very pleasant. In the remaining months of April and May, the temperature is very hot and the climate is unsuitable for visiting the caves. Where to Stay? The city nearest to Ajanta Caves is Aurangabad which is around 99km away. There are more than 200 hotels in Aurangabad that range from inexpensive hotels to expensive five-star hotels. Some of these hotels are as follows − Five-Star Hotels VITS Hotel located at Station Road Welcom Hotel Rama International located at Chikhalthana Ambassador Ajanta located at Cidco Vivanta by Taj Aurangabad located at Rauza Bagh Four-Star Hotels Lemon Tree Hotel located at Chikhalthana Keys Hotel The Aures located at Kranti Chowk Hotel Windsor Castle located at Cidco The Meadows located at Mitmita Hotel Gurjas located at Vinayak Patil’s Chowk Three-Star Hotels Hotel JP International located at Narailbag Hotel Green Olive located at Bhagya Nagar The Manor Hotel located at Osmanapura Kranti Chowk The Sky Court located opposite Railway Station Hotel Avon International located at Jalna Road Budget or Two-Star Hotels Hotel regal Plaza located at Bansilal Nagar Vijay Residency located at Cidco Hotel Admiral Suites located at Osmanapura Hotel Manmandir Executive located at Adalat Road Hotel Pearl located at Samarthnagar Cheap or One-Star Hotels Hotel Sparkling Pearl located at Cidco Hotel Venkateshwar located at Rokadia Hanuman Colony Hotel Deepali Executive located at Cidco Hotel Indradeep Executive located at Station Road Hotel Sahara located at Jalna Road Ajanta Caves – History Ajanta Caves were built in two phases and they have around 29 caves to be seen. The caves are numbered in order to identify them but that does not mean that they are constructed in the chronological order. Caves constructed during Satvahan Period The caves 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A were constructed during this period and are considered as the earliest caves. These caves belong to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Out of these caves, cave 9 and cave 10 have Buddhist Stupas which have worship halls and caves 12, 13, and 15A have viharas. Caves constructed during Vataka Period According to the historians and various studies, it has been found that second phase of the construction of Ajanta caves started during the reign of Harisena, a king of Vataka dynasty. The caves constructed during this period belonged to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. The caves that were constructed during this period are 1 to 8, 11, and 14 to 29. Out of these caves, 19, 26, and 29 are chaitya grihas and rest are viharas. After the death of Harisena, construction of the caves came to a halt but were in use. Though some historians say that Buddhist used the caves but no stable community was present there. Discovery of the Caves John Smith discovered the caves in 1819 during his hunting campaign. While moving around, he came to cave 10 and then asked the villagers to remove the jungle that grew around the cave. Within a few decade, the caves became popular due to the paintings present inside. Nizam of Hyderabad converted the place into a museum. Roads were also built during his reign and tourists were allowed to see the site by paying a small sum of money. This led to deterioration of the site but after independence, the caves came under government of Maharashtra which took measures to stop deterioration. History of Paintings There are several paintings that can be found in the Ajanta caves. People can mostly find Mural paintings that were made during both the phases. Ancient paintings show that they were made during the Satvahana period. Some of the caves have the paintings of Gupta period and later. Ajanta frescos are classical paintings made on dry plaster surface. The paintings were elaborately made with distinguishing features. The ceilings of the caves were also elaborately decorated. Cave 1 has the paintings of Jataka tales which is related to previous lives of Buddha. Ajanta Caves – Architecture Ajanta Caves were built from the Basalt accumulated in the form of igneous rocks. These rocks were accumulated due to the volcanic eruptions occurred long back. The workers carved the rock with proper planning as cracks also occurred during the process. The workers carved pillars, roofs, and idols out of the rocks. Along with

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Ajanta Caves – Architecture Ajanta Caves were built from the Basalt accumulated in the form of igneous rocks. These rocks were accumulated due to the volcanic eruptions occurred long back. The workers carved the rock with proper planning as cracks also occurred during the process. The workers carved pillars, roofs, and idols out of the rocks. Along with this, painting work was also done. Tourists can enter the site through a gateway built between cave 15 and cave 16. The gateway is decorated with elephant and snake. Monasteries Most of the caves are in the form of Viharas having dormitories attached to them. At the back side of the caves, a sanctuary was built and each sanctuary has a statue of Lord Buddha in the center. Many other deities are also carved on the pillars and near the large statue of Buddha. These caves were built during the second phase and were shifted from Hinayana sect to Mahayana sect. Due to all these features, they came to be known as monasteries. The center of the viharas are in the form of a square having rectangular aisles on each side. There are number of small cells which can be entered through the doors made up of wood. Worship Halls The worship halls, also known as Chaitya Grihas, was built in the form a rectangle. The halls are divided into a naïve and two aisles. The hall consists of a stupa and an aspe. A stupa is a hemispherical structure having the remains of Buddhist monks and nuns while apse is a semi-circular structure having a vault or semi-dome. People performed circumambulation around the stupa which is surrounded by pillars. Some caves have large entrances having windows through which light entered the caves. The construction of the worship halls depicted the architecture of Christian church but they didn’t have any chapel.

Ajanta Caves – How to Reach? Ajanta caves can be easily reached from Aurangabad and Jalgaoncities. Aurangabad is 99km away from Ajanta caves while Jalgaon is only 59km away. Aurangabad is wellconnected to Indian cities by air, rail, and road transport. The approximate distance of Aurangabad from various cities is as follows − Aurangabad to Mumbai By air – 265km By rail – 253km By road – 327km Aurangabad to Jalgaon By rail – 273km By road – 161km Aurangabad to Hyderabad By air – 433km By rail – 508km By road – 540km Aurangabad to Bhusaval By rail – 272km By road – 164km Aurangabad to Nagpur By air – 426km By rail – 621km By road – 487km Aurangabad to Pune By air – 212km By rail – 426km By road – 230km Aurangabad to Manmad By rail – 52km By road – 114km By Air Aurangabad has an airport which is 10km from the city and its name is Chikkalthana airport. The airport is well connected to Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur and Delhi. People can reach Aurangabad through flights and hire a cab or take a bus to Ajanta caves. By Train Aurangabad is well-connected to major cities of India through railway network. Many trains of long and short routes have stoppage here and people from various cities can come to Aurangabad by train and then take a bus or taxi to visit Ajanta caves. By Road Aurangabad bus station provides buses to many major cities. The bus stand is located on Jalgaon road in front of Lemon Tree hotel. The buses connects Aurangabad to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and other major cities. Local Transport Tourists can move around Aurangabad through auto rickshaws and local buses. Besides these, there are various agencies in the city from where tourists can book taxis for a fixed period of time and move in and around the city.