The spectacular Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta were cut along a imposing horseshoe shaped cliff, and house some of the finest surviving murals in the world.
The first cave monuments date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. Later additions were made during the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), when many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group.
The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta are considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, and have had a considerable artistic influence.
