Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad

Ajanta Caves is one of my top 4 favorite attractions in all of India. The other three are Ellora Caves, which are about 60km from Ajanta Caves, Khajuraho, and the Taj Mahal. The amazing part of Ajanta isn't the cave aspect, but the quality of the frescos you can see inside the caves. The paintings were created during India's Buddhist period and range from 1500 to over 2000 years of age. The skill exhibited in the frescos shows techniques that were not used by European painters until centuries later. There is a great understanding of perspective and form in the Ajanta Cave paintings. Some of the colors used, such as the beautiful lapis blue, come from the area of the present-day "Middle East". The site on which the caves are located is also impressive. All of the 20+ caves are carved into rock on a hillside above a bend of a river. It's a very tranquil location. There weren't a lot of foreign tourists when I visited, although quite a few locals and school children were visiting, and that was during India's peak travel season (Dec - Jan). That might be because Ajanta Caves isn't as famous as the Taj, or because it's harder to get to Ajanta. I recommend flying to Aurangabad and then hiring a taxi. It took me about 1.5 - 2 hrs to get to Ajanta Caves by taxi from Aurangabad. Hire a guide when you get to Ajanta and you will have a much richer experience. The tourist office in Aurangabad can give you the name of a recommended English speaking guide.