The ancient and beautiful place – a magnificent Ajanta caves – will not leave anyone indifferent. Located in the district of Aurangabad, in Maharashtra's not far from the settlement Agent, they represent a range of 30 caves carved into the rocky the rock river canyon Waghora, in form they resemble a horseshoe. Inside the cave are a veritable Museum of sculptures and wall paintings. According to research, they were created in the period from the II century BC to 600 ad, a Buddhist temple and monastery.

Thus, the first cave (the so-called cave of the first period) were created during the reign and under the patronage of the dynasty Satavahana. The frescoes in these caves, considered one of the most ancient of all surviving artistic monuments of India.

The other caves were built later (the caves of the second period), but scientists have not agreed about the time of their creation. According to recent studies, roughly 460-480 ad – the reign of the Emperor Harisena dynasty Vakataka. Soon the inhabitants of this cave monastery left it, and it got lost in the jungle.

Europeans this unique place has only been open in 1819. This happened due to the British officer John Smith: while hunting tigers, he accidentally discovered the entrance to one of the caves. And even now it is possible to distinguish scrawled them the inscription on the column of "John Smith, April 1819".

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

In 1983, the Ajanta caves have been a UNESCO world Heritage site.