Ajanta Caves

Ajanta · Maharashtra

Ancient Buddhist cave temples hidden in a horseshoe gorge — home to some of the finest surviving paintings of the ancient world.

Timings

Sunrise – sunset (closed Mondays)

Entry

Approx ₹40 (Indian) / ₹600 (foreign)

Best time

Morning; October–March

Time needed

Half to full day

Carved into a dramatic horseshoe-shaped cliff above a river gorge, the Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 30 Buddhist rock-cut monasteries and prayer halls dating back over 2,000 years. Rediscovered by a British hunting party in 1819 after centuries of abandonment, they are a window into the ancient world.

Their glory is the painting: the caves preserve some of the finest and best-preserved murals of ancient India, depicting the life of the Buddha and the Jataka tales in glowing, sophisticated detail. Together with their serene sculptures, they are a treasure of world art.

Don't miss

›The exquisite ancient murals (especially in Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17).
›The great chaitya (prayer hall) caves and their stupas.
›The panoramic viewpoint across the gorge.

Good to know

Closed on Mondays. Photography without flash is allowed but the paintings are dim (lit carefully to preserve them). Aurangabad is the base; combine with Ellora on separate days.