Apr 4, 2025, 12:23 PM IST

10 interesting facts about Maharashtra's Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Shivani Tiwari

The Ajanta and Ellora Caves, nestled in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites that offer a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of Indian history, religion, and culture. Here are 10 interesting facts you must know about the caves.

The Ajanta Caves are primarily Buddhist, these 30 rock-cut cave monuments date back to the 2nd century BCE to around 480 CE.

Ellora Caves are a more diverse complex, encompassing 34 caves representing Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Both sites are prime examples of rock-cut architecture, a significant feature of ancient Indian construction.

These sites are located relatively close to each other in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

The caves are renowned for their exquisite paintings, including the life of Buddha and stories from Jataka Tales, painted in fresco style.

The caves were accidentally discovered in 1819 by a British officer, John Smith, while hunting a tiger.

These caves provide invaluable insights into the artistic and architectural traditions of ancient India.

The Ajanta caves were used for meditation and monastic practices, providing solitude for Buddhist monks.

Ellora Caves are popular for their Kailasa Temple Cave 16, the temple is the world's largest monolithic rock-cut structure.

The sheer scale of the projects, especially the Kailasa temple, demonstrates the amazing engineering abilities of the ancient Indian people.

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