Buddhist masterpieces hidden within caves in India.

Religious treasures amidst the highland forests.

When you type the keyword "Ajanta" into Google, the first result returned is: "The Ajanta Caves are a complex of Buddhist rock-cut caves dating from the 2nd century BC to 480 AD, located in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra state, India."

However, in 1819 – a time before the internet and when communication was limited to letters – the existence of the Ajanta Caves was unknown. That year, a group of British hunters were hunting along a horseshoe-shaped cliff above the Waghora River in central India. Instead of finding wild animals as expected, they stumbled upon a series of man-made caves carved into the side of the cliff. Even more surprisingly, within this impressive structure lay a treasure trove of ancient religious art.

Within the caves and on the cave walls are large murals, sculptures considered masterpieces of Indian Buddhist art, temples (stupas), prayer rooms, inscribed stupas, etc. Densely covering the vaulted ceilings and walls of the cave temples are paintings in red, green, and blue on marble; they vividly depict Buddhist stories and Jataka tales. In Cave Temple No. 19, there is a sculpture of the Buddha standing and wearing a monastic robe, considered the oldest example of a standing Buddha statue. Besides these masterpieces reflecting early Buddhist art, these caves also contain murals and rock sculptures depicting social life and the creative achievements of classical India under the Gupta dynasty.

After further exploration and investigation, it was discovered that most of the Ajanta caves are structured like prayer halls (chaityas) and monastic quarters (viharas) in ancient temples. At the end of the prayer spaces, Buddha statues still remain; the living quarters are located along the outer corridors, containing nothing but a single stone bed. Judging by the number, it appears that at some point in the past, this place was home to at least hundreds of monks and ascetics.

Much of the architectural space exudes a sense of solemnity and reverence, but the walls are the opposite—they are designed to enlighten and inspire, covered with colorful paintings that tell fascinating stories from ancient times: the birth of the Buddha and his journey to enlightenment, Bodhisattvas, princes, princesses, merchants, beggars, musicians, servants, lovers, soldiers, and saints. Elephants, monkeys, buffaloes, geese, horses, and even ants are present, joining humans in the paintings. Trees bloom, lotus buds open, and vines twist and reach far.

These paintings, created in the style of the 5th century, depict many classic Buddhist illustrations and are believed to awaken devotion and open the way to spirituality visually. For most visitors today, the ancient stories and teachings seem overly mystical and lofty, but the murals stretching across the cave walls still possess an inexplicable, ancient allure.

Ancient history of formation

Nestled deep within the wild forests of the Deccan plateau, for about 14 centuries, the Ajanta cave complex was known only to bats and local tribes living in the area. For 1,400 years, it remained forgotten from the rest of the world. So how were these magnificent caves formed in their early days? Why did ancient sages choose this place for their spiritual practice and enlightenment? And for what reason were the Buddhist masterpieces they revered buried by the passage of time?

Going back about 66 million years—a hundred thousand years or more before the Chicxulub impact (the collision between Earth and the asteroid believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs)—one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history flooded the Deccan plateau of India with approximately 560,000 cubic kilometers of lava. As the dust settled and the lava cooled, the entire area was covered in a layer of basalt rock.

Many of India's later great dynasties were established on the Deccan plateau. The surviving stelae and inscriptions are among the best-preserved records of this early period. They mention approximately 30 man-made caves carved into a dark basalt rock face near the ancient town of Ajanta. Their appearance is incredibly magnificent, with paintings, pillars, and thousands of sculptures. The image of these caves easily brings to mind the Petra Valley in Jordan, or the ancient frescoes of Pompeii. This is the Ajanta Caves complex.

The opulence of these caves demonstrates royal patronage. Some of the cave temples date from the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, but the majority of the rock carvings were sculpted during the reign of King Harishena, the last ruler of the Vakataka dynasty in the mid-5th century AD. The Ajanta cave system was once a thriving religious and artistic center, a sacred place visited by many monks and considered the greatest legacy of Emperor Harishena.

After the fall of the Vakataka and Gupta dynasties, by the 7th century, the temples began to empty, the caves were abandoned, and the magnificent paintings of the Ajanta complex fell into oblivion. Time gradually drew Buddhism out of India, away from its birthplace. Finally, by the end of the 13th century, most of the Buddhist holy sites in the country had been destroyed or abandoned after wars with Muslim armies.

Sacred pilgrimage tourist destination

Today, after much research and conservation effort, the historical, artistic, humanistic value and far-reaching influence of the art treasures in the Ajanta cave complex have been discovered. Although many murals have been distorted by time and improper human intervention, the majority of the works here remain intact.

In 1983, the Ajanta Caves were recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site. Local authorities and the Indian government implemented policies to preserve and exploit the area's pilgrimage tourism potential. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims – including both domestic and international tourists – flock to Aurangabad district to admire this magnificent ancient structure.

Benoy Behl, an Indian photographer and filmmaker who has documented caves across the country for decades, remains deeply moved by the sacredness and antiquity of the Ajanta caves.

"We see the sacred part of ourselves right here," said Benoy Behl.

An