2. •
INTRODUCTION
The Ajanta Caves are approximately 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments
Duration :From 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE.
Location :Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India
3. The Ajanta Caves were carved during
two distinct periods, the first from
200 B.C to 100 A.D and the second
from around the fifth century A.D
Early Caves (Satavahana period)
• Caves 9, 10 , 12 , 13 and 15 are
believed to be from the Satavahana
period.
• Influenced by Hinayana Buddhism.
HISTORY
4. HISTORY
Caves of the later or vākāṭaka period
• Around 20 – 25 caves were carved simultaneously
in the fifth century.
• This phase was dominated by mahayana buddhism
Colonial era
• During the colonial era, the ajanta site was in the
territory of the princely state of the hyderabad and
not british india.
5. Ajanta Caves panorama with cave
numbers. The caves are numbered
from right to left, except for the later
discovered cave 29, located high
above Cave 21. Also, cave 30 is
located between caves 15 and 16,
nearer the river bed (cave invisible
here). Chaitya halls are boxed (9, 10,
19, 26), and minor caves are indicated
by a smaller type.
SITE
6. Served as refuge
Have large entrance porch
Had adjacent cells
VIHARA CAVES
7. CHAITYA CAVES
House of Stupa
dedicated for prayer
Penetrate much deeper
into rock (30mx14m)
Cave 9,10,19,26
8. ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS
Staircases:
Gates and doorways:
• The main gates (torṇa-dvāra)
• Main doorways permitting entry into the
interiors
• Side doorways permitting access into the
interior
• Shrine doorways
Frontcourts:
Porticoes:
• Only few edifices have porticoes,
e.g., Caves 1, 7, and 19
Porches:
• Both the upās´raya and temple types
often have
9. ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS
Halls
Cells:
• Apavaraka was the word used for the
monks’ cells
Pillars:
• Cave 12, 5th century halls (e.g.,
Caves 27 and 15)
• Cave 11 had four pillars
10. AJANTA CAVE MURALS
Nothing Less Than The Birth Of Indian Art
The paintings are
based on jataka tales
Fresco painting
method
11. CONCLUSION
Since 1983, Ajanta caves have been
listed among the UNESCO World
Heritage Sites of India. It is described
as among the finest surviving
examples of ancient Indian art.