11 Facts About the Rock-Cut Ajanta Caves That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

The Ajanta Caves—over 30 rock-cut ancient cave monuments located in India believed to date from the 2nd century BCE—constitute ancient monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 250 feet wall of rock.

Located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in India are over 30 rock-cut ancient cave monuments which are believed to date from the 2nd century BCE.

The magnificent caves include paintings and rock cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose and form, constituting ancient monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 250 feet wall of rock.

As many other great discoveries, the caves were discovered by chance.

The ancient caves remained isolated from the world, covered in deep jungles. In 1819, when an officer with the Madras Regiment of the British Army John Smith was in pursuit of a tiger across the jungle just outside of Mumbai he made the discovery.  While tracking the tiger, he stumbled upon a mysterious cave with a hidden entrance in the brush. What was believed to be just one cave, turned out to be over 30 massive caves carved into the bedrock in the distant past, beautifully decorated by mysterious builders. (Source: Richard Cohen (2006). Beyond Enlightenment: Buddhism, Religion, Modernity. Routledge. pp. 77–78.)

There are several authors who argue that the builders weren’t that mysterious at all. It is believed that Buddhist monks who spent a significant amount of time at the Ajanta caves during the monsoons as they were forbidden from traveling during that particular period of the year put their creativity and time to use and painted the walls of the caves creating ancient masterpieces. The Ajanta Caves are generally agreed to have been made in two distinct periods, the first belonging to the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE, and the second period that followed several centuries later. (Source)

Photo: Flickr

The Ajanta caves not only offer incredible paintings and sculptures, the ancient built huge Buddhist mounds like stupas built, massive pillars with intricately detailed carvings on the ceilings and walls.

Each of the Ajanta caves is unique and has an intricate and beautiful design covering its interior and entrances. The caves were excavated and decorated with extreme detail making them one of the most unique rock-cut caves on Earth.

SOURCE: Ancient-code

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