Ajanta Caves — Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Thirty caves carved into a horseshoe cliff, abandoned for over a thousand years, rediscovered by accident — and still the finest Buddhist art ever created.
Description:
In 1819, a British officer on a tiger hunt glanced up at a cliff face in the Sahyadri hills and noticed something carved into the rock. What he had found had been abandoned since the 5th century AD, swallowed by jungle, and forgotten by the world for over a thousand years.
The Ajanta Caves — thirty in all, carved between the 2nd century BC and 5th century AD — are India’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the most extraordinary collection of Buddhist paintings in existence. The frescoes in Cave 1 and Cave 2 are considered among the most psychologically sophisticated paintings from the ancient world, depicting emotion, movement, and narrative in ways that would not reappear in Western art for another thousand years.
This guided tour takes you through the full complex with an expert guide who brings the history, iconography, and artistic techniques alive — from the earliest Hinayana caves to the later Mahayana masterpieces, and the extraordinary story of how they were built, abandoned, and rediscovered.
What You’ll See:
- Cave 1 — Bodhisattva Padmapani and Vajrapani, the most celebrated paintings at Ajanta
- Cave 2 — ceiling paintings of extraordinary complexity, Jataka tales
- Cave 16 — the dying princess, one of the most emotionally powerful scenes in Indian art
- Cave 17 — the largest gallery of paintings at Ajanta
- Cave 26 — the great reclining Buddha, 26 feet long, carved in relief
- The full arc of the horseshoe cliff and the Waghora River valley below
Pricing:
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 4+ persons | ₹7,000/person |
| 2-3 persons | ₹8,500/person |
| 1 person | ₹14,000 |
Details:
| 📍 Location | Ajanta, Maharashtra (2 hours from Aurangabad) |
| ⏱ Duration | 8 hours |
| 🕗 Pickup | 8:00 AM from Aurangabad hotel |
| 🚗 Transport | Private AC vehicle with hotel pickup and drop |
| 🗣 Language | English |
| 🍽 Meals | Indian vegetarian lunch included |
| ⭐ Recognition | UNESCO World Heritage Site — India’s first |
What’s Included:
- Full guided tour of the Ajanta Caves complex
- Private AC vehicle with hotel pickup and drop from Aurangabad
- Experienced local guide
- All entrance charges
- Indian vegetarian lunch
What’s Not Included:
- Personal travel insurance
- Tips
- Any personal expenses
Cancellation Policy:
Full refund if cancelled 24 hours or more before the tour start time. No refund within 24 hours of departure.
Muussaafirr 