Ajanta

The Ajanta Caves date to 200 B.C. and feature stunning rock-cut architecture and Buddhist murals. The 30 caves—today a World Heritage site—were deserted for more than a thousand years, until a British shikhar (hunting) group rediscovered them in 1819. Today Ajanta is one of India's prime tourist attractions, with thousands of people flocking here each year to admire the scale of the caves and their fine craftsmanship.

How to Get There
You can reach the caves by catching a series of buses from the towns of Aurangabad or Jalgaon. These buses drop passengers off around 2.5 miles (four kilometers) from the caves, where there are frequent shuttle buses to and from the caves. Alternatively, hire a private taxi, which can be surprisingly affordable if there are a few of you to split the cost.

How to Get Around
You explore the caves by foot.

Attractions
The 30 caves of Ajanta have been ingeniously and dramatically cut into a horseshoe-shaped cliff. The oldest caves cluster around the middle of the gorge. All the caves have been decorated with remarkable Buddhist paintings, notable for the way they were done: the paints were mixed with vegetable gum and animal glue to make them adhesive. The murals depict various Buddhist scenes. Some of the caves—several of which contain large stupas (Buddhist shrines)—are believed to have served as meditation chambers for Buddhist monks.

Places to Stay & Eat
There are few hotels in Ajanta; most visitors to Ajanta stay in Jalgaon, 37 miles (60 kilometers) away, or in Aurangabad, 65 miles (105 kilometers) away.

If you plan to stay at Ajanta, your best bet is the MTDC Holiday Resort, which has clean and comfortable—if a tad dull—rooms at reasonable rates. Meals are available. Advance bookings are recommended. Aurangabad-Jalgaon Road; tel. +91 (0)2438 244230.

In the town of Jalgaon, the Hotel Plaza is a very sound choice, with tidy rooms at very reasonable (budget) rates. Next to this hotel is the competitively priced Silver Palace restaurant, recommended for its Indian and Chinese fare. Station Road; tel. +91 (0)257 222 7354; e-mail hotelplaza_jal@yahoo.com.

General Tips for Ajanta
The Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays.

Flash photography is prohibited in the caves.

The caves can get very crowded on weekends and holidays, so try to visit on weekdays (and, if possible, plan your trip to avoid Indian holidays).

It's worth getting a guide at Ajanta. Make sure you hire a Government of India guide (ask for identification); you'll miss out on so much history—and so many interesting insights—if you explore the caves independently. Guided tours take around two hours and cost about $7.

For More Information
Government of India Tourist Office, Aurangabad Krishna Vilas, Station Road West, Aurangabad; tel. +91 (0)240 233 1217.
Maharashtra Travel Destination