Ancient and beautiful place - great caves of Ajanta - will not leave anyone indifferent. Located in the district of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra, near the settlement of Adzhinta, they represent a complex of 30 caves, carved directly into the rocky canyon river rock Vaghora in form they resemble a horseshoe. Inside the cave is a veritable museum of sculptures and wall paintings. According to research, they were created in the period from II century BC to 600 AD, as a Buddhist temple and monastery.

Thus, the first cave (the so-called cave of the first period) were created during the reign of the dynasty and under the auspices Satavahanas. The murals that decorate these caves are among the most ancient of all extant art monuments of India.

The rest of the caves were built later (cave of the second period), but scientists have not reached a consensus about the time of their creation. According to recent studies, it is about 460-480 AD - the reign of the dynasty Vakatakas Harish. Soon the inhabitants of this cave monastery had left it, and it got lost in the jungle.

Europeans a unique place was opened only in 1819. It happened thanks to a British officer John Smith: while hunting tigers he accidentally discovered the entrance to a cave. And even now it is possible to distinguish between them scratched inscription on the column "John Smith, April 1819".

Inside the caves of Ajanta are a magnificent collection of the best examples of wall paintings and sculptures. Their walls are painted with scenes from the public life, as well as images of Buddhist mythology and gods.

In 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been made to the UNESCO World Heritage list.