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What To Know Before You Go To World Famous Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments in Aurangabad Maharashtra state, India. The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose and form.
Ajanta Caves
The most famous individual painted image at Ajanta is figure of the protective Bodhisattva Padmapani with lotus 
Ajanta Cave network came up between 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD. Brilliant in their detailing,  these are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art that influenced the Indian art that followed. since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO world heritage site. 
The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship-halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 75-meters wall of rock.
The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirth of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura's Jatakamala
Anther famous individual painted images of Vajrapani on either side of the entrance to the Buddha shrine on the wall of the rear aisle.
Ajanta Caves also includes rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities.
Textual records suggest that these caves served as a monsoon retreat for monks, as well as a resting site for merchants and pilgrims in ancient India.
Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, or Dying Buddha, on left aisle wall Cave 26 of Ajanta Caves
Caves 9 and 10 are the two chaitya or worship halls. The cave has a distinct apsidal shape, nave, aisle and an apse with an icon, architecture, and plan that reminds one of cathedrals built in Europe many centuries later. The aisle has a row of 23 pillars. The ceiling is vaulted. The stupa is at the center of the apse, with a circumambulation path around it.
The Cave 11 is a monastery of Ajanta Caves The cave veranda has pillars with octagonal shafts and square bases. The ceiling of the veranda shows evidence of floral designs and eroded reliefs. Main attraction of this cave is  Buddha with a kneeling devotee.