AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES

 AJANTA  AND ELLORA CAVES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ajanta Caves

• Location: Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

• Time Period: 2nd century BCE to 480 CE

• Significance: Buddhist rock-cut cave monuments

• Purpose: Retreats for Buddhist monks, rest stops for merchants and pilgrims

• Notable Features:

  • Exquisite wall paintings and sculptures

  • Monasteries (viharas) and worship halls (chaityagrihas)

  • Famous Caves: Cave 1, Cave 2, Cave 16, Cave 17

    
    
    

 

Ellora Caves

• Location: Near Aurangabad, Maharashtra

• Time Period: 6th to 10th centuries CE

• Significance: Largest rock-cut temple complexes in the world

• Religions Represented: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism

• Number of Caves: 34 (12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, 5 Jain)

• Notable Features:

  • Massive monolithic Kailash Temple (Cave 16)

  • Demonstration of religious harmony in ancient India

    
    
    

These points should provide a clear and concise overview of these remarkable sites. If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!