Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves are India's greatest artistic achievement — 30 rock-cut Buddhist sanctuaries carved into a horseshoe-shaped basalt cliff between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE. The cave paintings inside depict the life of Buddha and the Jataka tales in breathtaking naturalistic detail, using mineral pigments so skillfully applied that some retain their original luminosity 1,500 years later. Cave 1, 2, 16, and 17 contain the finest murals — each a complete masterclass in ancient Indian painting.
Allow your eyes to adjust to the dim interior before judging the paintings — they gradually reveal extraordinary detail as your vision adapts. A torch is helpful.