Nestled in an inner fold of the Sahyadri hills, 100 kms away from Aurangabad are the 30 rock-cut caves of Ajanta, famous for its cave painting or frescoes of many colors.
They contain numerous images of Buddha. Caves 1,2,16 and 17 have the best-preserved paintings. The magnificient depictions of the bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Padmapaniin are particularly well known.
The Ajanta Caves are a World Heritage site cut from the volcanic lava of the Deccan in the forest ravines of the Sahyadri Hills. They are set in beautiful sylvan surroundings, providing a unique combination of architecture, sculpture and paintings.