Paintings in Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra

25th Dec 2007 at Ajanta caves Aurangabad.

Aurangabad to Ajanta caves – a distance of 106km; it took us around one and half hours by road from our hotel. The taxi goes only till the foothill. After this point we had to rush to catch a bus from there to the caves a distance of 4 km. It was Tuesday.

Since Ajanta caves are closed to public on Mondays and the day being 25th Dec, tourists were pouring in huge numbers. For once I felt  we should have stayed in a hotel close to Ajanta Caves.

We spent good three and half hours Ajanta Caves Aurangabad. This was our day 1 of Aurangabad tour.

Fading Treasures in Ajanta Caves Aurangabad

Fading Treasures in Ajanta Caves Aurangabad

Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra – India’s Heritage site

Ajanta caves of Maharashtra was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group.

The Ajanta Caves paintings and sculptures, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence

Ajanta Caves Buddha Statue pictures

Ajanta Caves History

Ajanta Caves are popular for its treasures – paintings and carvings – in 30 caves. But not all caves were built in one go. Researches around the caves reveal that these caves were built in 2 distinct phases. One set during 2nd BC that makes them 2200 years old and another set of caves several centuries later, between 4th to 5th century AD.

Tour of Ancient Caves of Ajanta

There are 30 caves, only the first 26 caves are open to public, caves 27, 28, 29 and 30 are inaccessible. We were told they were incomplete too.

No flash photography and video recording permitted. Initially I was quite disappointed for not being able to capture the paintings.

But later I understood that too many flashes would heat up the paintings and the deterioration of paintings would be fast, they said. There is seepage of water in the mountain walls, that too was destroying the paintings little by little.

Luckily we had two torches so we could view the paintings part by part. Interior lighting provided inside the cave is not sufficient. Caves are maintained well and clean, no footwear permitted inside.

Bodhisatva Padmapani paintings in Ajanta Caves

This is the most famous Ajanta caves painting. Sadly this is the maximum I could capture in my lens. So sorry for the low resolution image.

Bodhisatva Padmapani Ajanta Caves

Bodhisatva Padmapani – Ajanta Caves painting

Cave 2 similar to cave 1, has lovely painted ceilings. Wall paintings depict the legend of Buddha’s birth. Work in these 30 monastic caves and prayer halls started in 2nd century BC, Buddhism was at its peak then. Estimated to be completed in 5th century.

Paintings in Ajanta caves 2

Paintings in Ajanta caves

Cave 4 is the largest monastery(Vihara) of Ajanta caves. It has 28 pillars with beautiful designs, sculpted images and paintings on walls depicting the story of life of Buddha.

Cave 4 Ajanta caves

Cave 4 Ajanta caves sculptures

Cave 5. An image of Buddha in Sanctum. The picture left is the sculpture of river goddess standing on a crocodile.

Cave 6 is the only double storeyed Vihara. Images of Buddha in Abhay Mudra. This Vihara has the unique musical pillars.

…numerous Buddha figures in various studies…(Bhagwan Buddha appeared in thousand forms at a time in Sravasti)

Cave 6 Ajanta Caves Aurangabad

Buddha sculptures in Cave 6 Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves sculptures

Ajanta Caves sculptures

Hinayana Chaitya cave

Cave 8 was closed. Inside cave 9. This is a Hinayana chaitya cave. There were plenty of holes on the floors of the caves like this picture below. Probably they served as pallets or they were filled with water to reflect light to light up the interiors of dark caves. There is no image of Buddha in the Stupa.

Cave 9 Ajanta Caves

Stupa in Ajanta Caves

Holes on floor of Cave 9

Ajanta Caves Aurangabad Rediscovered

On 28 April 1819, a local shepherd boy guided British officer John Smith who was hunting tigers, to the entrance of Cave No. 10. These caves were already known to locals.

The British officer stunned by what he saw fetched villagers with axes, spears, torches, and drums from nearby village to cut down the tangled jungle growth that made entering the cave difficult.

He then did the meanest thing: he vandalized the wall by scratching his name and date over the painting of a bodhisattva as if he owned the whole cave!

Cave 10 is similar to cave 9 and is the oldest of the Chaityas.

Mahayana Monuments

Caves 16 and 17 has beautiful paintings. They are regarded as Mahayana monuments.

The remnants of beautiful paintings on the ceilings …and the partial photograph of “Wheel of Dharma”. Of all the 30 caves only four 1, 2, 16 and 17 are entirely covered with paintings. The Jataka tales, life story of Lord Buddha and a variety of other subjects all depicted in detail.

With time these precious frescoes will dissolve into the walls…but until then everybody should visit these timeless wonders at least once.

Ajanta Caves 16 and 17

Ajanta Caves Paintings

Cave 18 is the smallest one with just an water tank.

Cave 19 is one of the biggest Chaitya hall of the Mahayana period. The facades are carved with large Buddha figures.

Nagaraj and Nagrani

Sculpted images of Nagaraj and Nagrani.

Dharmachakra Pravartan Mudra

Lord Buddha in Dharmachakra Pravartan Mudra

Cave 19 – Sculptor’s Treasure Chest

There are large number of stone figures inside the cave 19. It is also called “the sculptor’s treasure chest” by the historians.

Ajanta Caves Statues

Cave 20 has attractive sculptures on the veranda pillars.

Caves 21 to 25 are incomplete.

One of them may have been a dining room with raised platforms in rows.

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Incomplete Cave 24

There are beautiful designs like this in each of the pillars.

Mahayana Chaitya Griha

This is the cave 26. The Mahayana Chaitya- Griha. There is a big hall. This cave is also full of sculptures like cave 19.

Facade of Ajanta Cave 24

Inside Cave 26 – Ajanta Caves

Mahaparinirvana of Buddha on the right aisle wall which is about 7m in length; statue of reclining Buddha.

Waghora River Ajanta Caves

Waghora River Ajanta Caves Aurangabad

View of Waghora River from the caves. We spent three and half hours here, going in and out of the carved and painted caves feeling proud of India’s rich and eloquent history.

Three and half hours of walk and tour of around 26 caves; by now we were tired! My kids cooperated and I was really thankful to them. We walked back to the ticket counter and had sumptuous meals at the MTDC hotel.

Tips for Best Tour of Ajanta Caves

  • Arrive early for a crowd free tour of the caves.
  • Take energy boosters and water; it takes time to cover the 30 caves.
  • Winters are the best time to visit Ajanta Caves.
  • It is difficult to cover both Ellora Caves and Ajanta caves on same day, though not impossible.

Ajanta Caves Timings

The Ajanta caves are open to tourists on Tuesday to Sunday 6am to 6pm. It is closed on Mondays.

Ajanta Caves Tickets

Tickets costs 10INR for Indian nationals and 10$ for foreign nationals.

How to reach Aurangabad

By air- Chikalthana airport at Aurangabad 106kms.
By Rail – From Jalgaon railway station 59kms.
By road – From Mumbai 392kms. Taxis and rickshaws are available.

Where to stay in Aurangabad

Taj Residency
MTDC Holiday resort: Location: Station road, Aurangabad
The Ambassador Ajanta

(This post was first written on Jan 5th 2008.)

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3 Responses to “Paintings in Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra

  • Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Genial brief and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.

  • Shubhangi
    16 years ago

    Indrani,
    Thank-you for letting me into your blog. Had a fantastic journey through the caves (oops! not caves, temples of art if i may say so!) sitting in Bangalore. I have always been planning a trip there. Your blog has inspired me to make it happen! Great work and thanks for sharing!
    Shubhangi

  • Your pics are also treasures! Thanks for sharing.

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