FUN-travel: Amazing Ajanta Caves
November 26, 2016 by Susan Clarke
- This UNESCO World Heritage Site…
…29 Buddhist cave monuments…
…carved into wall of rock 250 feet high…
… include paintings and rock cut sculptures.
- Built in two phases…
…first group starting around the 2nd century BC…
…with second group of caves…
…built around 400–650…
…included monasteries…
…and worship halls…
…of different Buddhist traditions.
- Among the finest surviving examples…
…of ancient Indian art…
…particularly expressive paintings…
…presenting emotion through…
…gesture…
…pose…
…and form.
- Cave paintings also depict…
…the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha…
…along with rock-cut sculptures…
…of Buddhist deities.
- Caves served as a monsoon retreat…
…for monks…
…and a resting site…
…for merchants…
…and pilgrims…
…in ancient India.
FUN-fact – The Ajanta Caves were covered by jungle until accidentally “discovered” in 1819 by John Smith, a colonial British officer on a tiger hunting party.