Ajanta and Ellora Caves
The Ajanta and Ellora caves are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India, and are regarded one of the best examples of ancient rock-cut caverns. The Ajanta and Ellora caverns complex has Buddhist monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples, as well as exquisite sculptures, paintings, and murals. The Ajanta Caves are 29 in number and were constructed between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD, whilst the Ellora Caves are 34 in number and date from the 6th to 11th centuries AD. The caves of Ajanta and Ellora are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are visited by tourists from all over the world. The Ajanta Caves are predominantly Buddhist structures and were used as a retreat by Buddhist monks. They are located roughly 99 kilometres north of Aurangabad. Ellora is about 15 kilometres west of Aurangabad and contains a more diverse collection of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist sites. The Indian kings of the time created and financed these hand-carved caverns, which were nearly concealed by dense ...