Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta caves lie in the vicinity of the city Ajanta, in the northeast of the Indian state Maharashtra around 100 km north of the city Aurangabad . In a steep U shaped valley, cut into rocks through the river Waguma, one finds numerous large cave temples made into the rocks. In a Mahayana cave, one can see very well maintained wall paintings with scenes from the life of Buddha. The total numbers of caves were notified in the UNESCO world cultural heritage in 1983.

From the 2 nd century to the 5 th century after the turning point in history the valley was inhabited by the Buddhist. These made into the rock large caves that are large up to 30 m x 15 m x 4 m (width, depth, height). It is concluded that the building phases and chisel times should around 30 years per cave. In the 5 th century, a wave of the hostilities against Buddhists throughout India reached this separated valley. The Buddhists were banished. The caves fall into oblivion and in the course of time beaten by the weather.

In the year 1819, the British cavalry officer John Smith slipped during the tiger hunt into a hole and discovered the cave 10. Other caves were gradually exposed. The access to the cave is through a slit or a narrow door. The rooms are wider than deep. In entering of the caves, one sees a Buddha figure made out of the rock. The most important cave equipped with wall plaster, on which magnificent scenes are represented out of the life of Buddha. In another cave two warriors paying homage to Buddha, the one in chinese and the other in Roman soldier clothing. Therefore cultural exchange between medieval India and the Mediterranean Basin must have existed around the turning point in history. A further Ajanta cave contains a Stupa.