A Visit to the Ajanta Caves
Aurangabad, 15 January: Students of Std X recently visited the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
Background: The Ajanta Caves are about thirty Buddhist rock-cut caves carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff above the Waghur river, created between about the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE. They were forgotten for centuries and rediscovered in 1819. They were declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Features: The caves contain chaityas (prayer halls) and viharas (monasteries), beautiful sculptures of the Buddha and world-famous wall paintings depicting the Jataka tales.
Security and discipline: Visitors reach the caves by shuttle buses that keep pollution away. Security guards are posted in every cave, flash photography is banned to protect the paintings, and the number of visitors inside a cave at a time is controlled.
Sign boards: Clear sign boards in English, Marathi and Hindi give cave numbers and instructions; dustbins are kept along the path.
Overall: The site was clean and well maintained. The visit gave students a deep appreciation of India’s ancient art and the need to protect it.