Ajanta Caves

This is also a cave complex around Aurangabad unlike the Ellora Caves which are inside Aurangabad. These date back to 100 BC and are around 600 years older than the Ellora Caves. There is a huge horseshoe shaped rock which encompasses all thirthy Buddhist Chaityas and Viharas which have incredible sculptures and paintings on them which look much ahead of the time. The sculptures here apart from Buddhism represent exotic facts about the relationship between a man and his woman. The paintings and sculptures of men and women in various poses look extremely graceful and the popularity of Buddhism is evident here too. The standing statue of Sahyadri style Buddha is a remarkable attraction here. These caves were almost accidentally discovered in the 19th century by a group of British officers out for some survey here. The caves are now under the supervision of the archeological Survey of India.