These caves were discovered by an Army Officer in the Madras Regiment of the British Army in 1819 during one of his hunting expeditions.

These caves are excavated in horse–shoe shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora.

In all, total 30 excavations were hewn out of rock which also include an unfinished one.

The Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Facts about Ajanta Caves:-

1. Ajanta caves were excavated between 2nd century and 6th century.

2. The Ajanta group of caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side 3. They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning a period from 200 BC to 650 AD.

4. The caves are believed to be made in 2 distinct periods: Satavahana) period and Vakataka, period.

5. These caves depict the life of God Buddha through Jataka stories.

6. Stupas were the objects of worship in these caves.

7.The general style of paintings at The Ajanta caves seems to have influenced paintings in Tibet and Srilanka.