The 30 rock-cut caves at Ajanta have been excavated in a panoramic, horseshoe shaped gorge of the Waghora River. They belong to two distinct phases of Buddhism - the earlier Hinayana phase from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD; and the later Mahayana phase from the 5th century AD to the 6th century AD.
Among the finest examples of early Buddhist architecture, cave-paintings and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines and Viharas or monasteries.
Some of the magnificent paintings, for which Ajanta is world-famous, can be seen in caves 1, 2, 9, 10, 16 and 17. They depict episodes from the life of the Buddha and scenes from the Jataka tales which relate to the Buddha's previous incarnation as a Bodhisattva.
The sculptures on the façade of some of the caves and in the shrines contain superb images of the Buddha. More remarkable among these is the one depicting the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana - his ultimate release from the cycle of rebirth, in Cave 26, evoking a sense of awe and reverence.
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