Declared The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ajanta Caves are rock-cut cave monuments dating back to the 2nd century BC. The caves are nested in a horseshoe-shaped ravine close to village of Ajintha along the river Waghur.

Discovered by British by chance in 1989 these 30 caves excavated in the south side  consist of viharas, chaitya-grihas (halls). The cave numbers 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15A were excavated during Hinayana phase. The Cave Nos. 1 to 8, 11, 14 to 29 were created during the Mahayana phase.

Cave 1: has the most elaborate carvings and relief sculptures with scenes from the life of the Buddha. The wall of the inside hall are 13 mtrs long and approx.7 mtrs. High are covered with Jataka Katha paintings. Twelve pillars support the ceiling. There is a seated image of the Buddha in the shrine.

Cave 2: is relatively in a better state of preservation with the paintings preserved on its walls, ceilings and pillars. The Jataka Katha paintings on the ceilings and walls of the porch are very famous. Combination of  stones, minerals, and plants were used in to prepare different colors for the paintings.The brush used were made of twigs of plants and animal hairs.

Cave Timings: 9.00AM to 17.30PM  Caves remain closed on Monday .

Entrance Charges: Indians below 15 years : FREE above 15 years : Rs. 10/- per head

Foreigners above 15 years : US $5 per head.

Photo Camera/ Video Camera: Rs. 5/- (Camera to be used without flash)

Accommodation:

Inpection Bungalow. (4.5. km.) & Fardapur Guest House. Apply: Executive Engineer. B. & C. Dept. Padampura- Aurangabad.

Hoilday Camp: Fardapur. Apply: MTDC. Express Towers, Nariman Point. Mumbai-21.

By Air: Nearest Airport- Chikhalthana (Aurangabad) 112.

By Rail: Nearest Railway Station: Jalgaon 62. Bhusaval 78.

By Raod: Mumbai (Via Nashik-Malegaon) 445,

Pune (Via Ahmednagar) 328,

Jalgaon 63,

Aurangabad 94.