Cave 2 is also clearly inspired from Cave 1. Its doorways are influenced from the many ancient temples found in India. The ceiling is intricately designed and decorated exuberantly. The walls inside have an image of a Thousand Buddhas, painted with astonishing detailing. The corridor towards the right shows a puerile girl on a swing – called the Woman on Swing – which highlights Buddha’s thoughts that physical energy led to illumination.

Cave 4 was made simultaneously with Cave 17, but was left unfinished. There lie a huge number of incomplete paintings from Buddha’s life. A crouching deer, dwarf musuician, and floral plaster are some of the many things found in this cave.

Cave 6 is representative of the Mahayana period. There lies an image of a seated Buddha, surrounded by flying pairs of couples. The pillars in these caves are much more fine than the earlier caves and are in an octagonal shape. It has the painting of the Bhikshu with Lotus.

Cave 9 accomodates the Chaitya Hall of Gathering. It has a Giant Horseshoe Window. The Naga Worshippers and the Frieze of Animals and Herdsmen are two paintings that can still be seen there.

Cave 10 more or less resembles Cave 9 in its style and architecture. You have the Shada-Dant Jataka – Buddha incarnated as an elephant. There can also be seen the depiction of a King with his Retinue and the Shyama Jataka. The Princess and Tusk and the Buddha with the One-Eyed Monk are other two paintings that must be checked out. Cave 11 is mainly concerned with indicating the shift fro the Hinayana period to the Mahayana Period. It bares Buddhist Stupas.

Cave 16 has a beautifully made porched doorway that lay the foundation to the other doorways. This particular cave gives a breathtaking view of the river beneath. This cave has the Giant Buddha Statue, a depiction of Buddha with a Begging Bowl, the Descent of Lord Buddha and Prince Siddhartha (Buddha) stretching a bow. This cave is also home to the world famous art – Dying Princess – that displays the princess’ shock when she gets to know about her husband becoming a monk. The Sutasama Jataka is also another sculpture that is a must watch.

Cave 17 shows paintings that symbolize love, like the Apsaras and Flying Spirits and the Indra and the Apsaras. Apsaras mean Angels. The Buddha Returns shows how Princess Siddhartha returned as a beggar to reconcile with his wife and children.

Cave 21 is more sensibly devised than the other caves. The area has been used judiciously with well carved pillars. Paintings that were hung on the walls once upon a time are now replaced by plasters. It contains of the Chaitya Hall – an open court that lies close to the verandah. A structure composed of a series of arches and supported by 26 pillars is found in here. This wall also has relief sculptures. The verandah has a wall close to it that has the Buddha’s statue on it, albeit in a dead state. Believed to be his sculpture in a sleeping form, the Buddhists claim that Buddha is in his Parinirvana here. The same wall that accommodates the Buddha in his Parinirvana state also houses a sculpture called the Temptation of Buddha.

Cave 24 consists of 3 components – The Pillar Style, the Pilaster and the Porched Doorway. The pillar styles found in this cave are incomplete, but are noteworthy of its origination. Starting with rough and uneven pillars, it evolved to octagonal pillars with proper finishing, in the Mahayana Period. The porch end consists of an elaborately created pilaster. Cave 24 was however left incomplete. A later addition in and around the 7th Century, the Porched Doorway is in the upper right corner and is in the shape of a T.

Cave 26 comprises the Sravasti Miracle, Family Group, and Buddha Head with Curly Hair. The passage that circumvents the cave is full of carvings depicting the miracles that Buddha performed in his time. Sravasti is a village that is believed to have been lucky to have witnessed the great Buddha present himself in the skies above, in all his forms. The Family Group is the depiction of an ideal family during that time. It has flowery decoration. Buddha Head With Curly Hair is simply a depiction of the head of Buddha, complete with curly hair and huge ears. Legend has it that Buddha was seated on a lotus that was believed to be the centre of the cosmic universe. The Nagas, Nanda and Anumpananda are the ones that hold the lotus stem. The Chaitya Horseshoe Arch exhibits fantastic images sculpted deftly, and date back to the 5th Century.

Cave 27 has two parts to it – the Naga Dwarpala and the Porched Doorway. The outer wing of the Buddhist shrine lies the Naga Dwarpala. This cave is greatly inspired by the Cave numbered 20. Hence, though the Naga here resembles the Naga found in Cave 20, it doesn’t look as charming as its counterpart. The Porched Sorrway, meanwhile, is inspired from Cave Number 2.

A Perfect Visit Any Time Of The Year - Ajanta Climate

The Ajanta Caves are unaffected by the prevailing weather conditions. This site can be visited at all times of the year. However, the summer season is advised to be skipped out on, as there is quite a bit of walking to do – an activity that might tire you in the scorching summer heat. The monsoons are hands down the best time to visit this fantastic place, as the river right below the Caves are in full bloom, and the gushing water, combined with the abundant greenery makes for a perfect memorable experience.

How to reach Ajanta

The Ajanta Caves are easily accessible by air, road and rail. The Aurangabad Airport, at a distance of 100 km, is the closest airport, if one decides to Travel by air. There are also several trains that ply from various cities in India to Aurangabad and Jalgaon – two cities extremely close to the Ajanta Caves. If travelling by road, one can opt from the many Bus Tour services offered by the State Government Transport or the private bus tours. From Aurangabad, Ajanta Caves is around two to three hours away.

These caves are better seen in person than merely read about. The enormity and grandness of this heritage sites are one of those few destinations in the world you must visit before you die. Don’t miss on this wonder for anything. The mystical charm of these caves will have you zapped.   

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