Tourist visiting the Ajanta caves resting at the feet of a large elephant India
The 30 rock hewn caves of Aurangabad were excavated in a panoramic horseshoe shaped gorge of the Waghora river in Maharashtra India. They belong to two distinct phases of Buddhism –the earlier Hinayana phase from the 2nd century BC to the first 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 and cavepaintings and sculptures they comprise Chaitya halls (shrines) and Viharas (monasteries) The most magnificent paintings for which Ajanta is famous can be seen in caves 1,2,9,10,16 and17. They depict episodes from the life of Buddha and scenes from the jataka tales of his previous incarnation as Bodhisattva. Sculptures on the facades of some of the caves and in the shrines contain superb images of the Buddha.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Ajanta Cave .Maharashtra India
Photo credit: © maurice joseph / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes
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