Last Updated on: 4th November 2025, 11:26 am
Mostly carved from the 2nd century BC to the 5th or 6th century AD, the Ajanta Caves are undoubtedly one of India’s most important Buddhist sites. While some caves are mainly known for their intricate carvings, what really makes the site special is the amount of well-preserved mural paintings that remain on the walls. In the following guide to the Ajanta Caves, we’ll be covering all 26 or so caves that you’ll encounter at the site.
To learn more about reaching the site from nearby city of Aurangabad along with where to stay in the area, be sure to check the end of the article.
Ajanta Caves Visiting Tips
TICKETS & OPENING HOURS: Tickets to the Ajanta Caves cost Rs 600 for foreigners and just Rs 35 for Indians. You can either buy them at the site or in advance online.
The Ajanta Caves are open from 9:00-17:00 every day except Mondays. (When planning your Aurangabad trip, also keep in mind that the Ellora Caves are open daily except Tuesdays.)
TOURING THE CAVES: For most visitors, the best way to see all of the Ajanta Caves is simply to visit them in order, starting with Cave 1.
During my visit, no less than three different locals told me to do it backward, starting with Cave 26. That way, they said, I’d get to experience one of the most impressive caves before the crowds arrived. But there are a number of reasons NOT to do things this way.
First of all, while the site officially opens at 9:00, the closest ticket gate to Cave 26, which is situated by Cave 8, doesn’t open until 10:00.
But the ticket gate by Cave 1 does indeed operate form 9:00. Furthermore, Cave 1 is also one of the site’s most impressive caves, as it features some of the best paintings. So it makes most sense to keep things simple and start there.
All in all, expect it to take about two hours to thoroughly explore everything. The site is considerably smaller than the Ellora Caves, but taking transport time into account, this is still a full-day trip. As for arranging transport to the site from Aurangabad, learn more about that below.
ACCESSING THE MAIN SITE: If you want to be the very first person at the site, it’s best to take a private driver (again, more below).
Confusingly, there are two ways to enter the Ajanta Caves. The first is just via the main parking lot. Whether you’ve come by bus from Aurangabad or with a private driver, everyone must then take a separate shuttle bus from the parking area to the site entrance. The ride lasts roughly ten minutes.
It’s unclear exactly when these buses start running, but by the time I started exploring Cave 1 at around 9:30, I was still the only visitor at the site. So how did I do it?
An alternative entrance to the site is located at what’s called the ‘Upper View Point.’ While a bit of a walk, from there you can descend to the ‘Lower Viewpoint’ and then down and over to the main ticket booth with no need for a shuttle bus.
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWDS: In summary, first take private transport and arrive at the Upper View Point before 9:00. Walk all the way down, past Cave 1, and buy your ticket at the main ticket booth. Then proceed to see all the caves in order.
When finished, backtrack toward the ticket booth area and take a shuttle bus over to the main parking lot where you’ll meet your driver (it’s big, so get his number in advance!).
The View Points
As mentioned above, an alternate way to access the Ajanta Caves is to have your private driver drop you off at the Upper View Point. From there, you can walk down to the Lower View Point which is the much more impressive of the two.
The Lower View Point allows you to clearly see all the caves you’re about to explore. The Ajanta Caves were largely constructed in two separate phases, with the earliest caves dating to the 2nd century BC.
Work then resumed in the 5th century AD, a time when central India was ruled by the Vakataka dynasty (the mighty Gupta Empire was in power further north).
Scholars still disagree on whether this second phase lasted a few centuries or just a few decades.
Long forgotten about, the Ajanta Caves were rediscovered in 1819 by British officer Captain John Smith while he was out hunting for tigers.
If you want to enjoy these views but plan on coming by bus, don’t worry. You can still walk here from the main site, with the bridge near Cave 8 taking you across the river. After that, follow the path up to the large outcrop.
But eventually, you’ll have to return the way you came.
A Guide to the Ajanta Caves
Here we’ll be covering every single one of the Ajanta Caves that are accessible to visitors – from the spectacular to the mundane. As mentioned above, even if you take your time, you should be able to explore the entirety of the site in about two hours.
Cave 1
While the first cave most visitors enter today, Cave 1 was likely one of the last ones carved after most of the other prime locations at the site were already taken.
But for whatever reason, out of all of the Ajanta Caves, the paintings here and at Cave 2 have survived better than anywhere else.
The cave measures out to 35.7 X 27.6 m and was commissioned by Vakataka Emperor Harishena.
The scenes on the walls mostly depict various Jataka Tales, or legends detailing what happened during the Buddha’s previous incarnations.
In this case, many of the selected tales depict past lives of the Buddha in which he was king, suggesting they were chosen by the benefactor himself.
Two prominent bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism, Padmapani and Vajrapani, also make appearances.
The large painting here of Padmapani holding a lotus flower, in fact, has become one of Ajanta’s most well-known paintings and is an unofficial symbol of the site.
Note that the lighting at most caves is extremely dark, presumably to preserve the paintings. Security is strict about no flash photography, but I did see tour guides shining flashlights on the paintings during their explanations.
I also brought a light to aid with photography, which of course all had to be done handheld. While I’m not sure of the official rules, no guard ever complained when I used a headlamp for illumination.
Cave 2
Cave 2 was likely completed in the 5th century AD, though some suspect that it could’ve been created as late as the 7th. That would make it one of Ajanta’s very last.
Cave 2 is similar in layout to Cave 1 and is also entirely adorned in well-preserved paintings.
While the interior of this cave is also dark, you can more clearly enjoy the painted veranda ceiling under better lighting conditions. Over to the sides, you’ll also encounter various carved figures from Buddhist cosmology.
Stepping inside, in addition to the main Buddha shrine, other sculptures represent the Buddhist deities of motherhood and wealth, or Hariti and Panchika, respectively.
Again, numerous Jataka Tales are depicted here. Both the level of detail and the sheer size of some of these scenes are highly impressive.
As mentioned, some locals like to advise visitors to start at Cave 26 (which is indeed a spectacular cave), but I really enjoyed getting to admire the paintings of the first two caves with hardly any other visitors around.
Passing these caves on my way out in late morning, both of them were packed.
Cave 3 was commenced but barely finished. And despite having been given a number by archaeologists, it’s not a cave you can go into. As such, this guide continues with Cave 4.
Cave 4
This cave served as a vihara, or Buddhist assembly hall. It’s actually the largest vihara at Ajanta, measuring out to 35 m × 28 m. But it was never completed, likely due to the ceiling partially collapsing.
As such, artists never got around to painting it. But carvings of the Buddha and accompanying bodhisattvas were indeed completed.
Cave 5
This cave was unfinished aside from the door frame. Perhaps the builders (or excavators, in this case) noticed a problem with the rock here.
Cave 6
Cave 6 is an impressive monastery comprising of two stories, but only the lower floor was finished. While the cave contains plenty of carvings, they can’t compare with those of Caves 1 and 2.
Cave 7
This cave served as a single-story monastery. It contains a beautiful carved Buddha shrine but is otherwise not very noteworthy.
As mentioned, this Ajanta Caves guide includes every cave at the site – both remarkable and unremarkable. Don’t worry, as there are plenty more impressive caves to come.
Cave 8 is currently being used by site staff as an office and storage room, and thus can’t be explored by visitors. As it was an unfinished monastery, there’s probably not much to see, anyway.
As mentioned above, there’s an additional ticket gate by this cave for those arriving via the Upper View Point, but it only opens from 10:00.
Cave 9
Caves 9 & 10 are some of the very earliest of the Ajanta Caves dating from the 1st or 2nd century BC. They are both ‘chaitya caves,’ which is a term used for caves with carved stupas.
Cave 9 has a stunning exterior facade. But it appears a lot different from the simple interior and was surely carved at a much later date – likely around the 5th century AD.
While the caves from Ajanta’s second construction phase belong to the Mahayana sect, these earliest caves are Theravada. Theravada Buddhism largely focuses on the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise known as the Buddha.
Mahayana Buddhism, of course, reveres Siddhartha Gautama, but it also places a major emphasis on past and future Buddhas, along with bodhisattvas, or individuals who delayed nirvana in order to help others.
In addition to its stupa, Cave 9 features 23 pillars with high a vaulted ceiling. These pillars are painted, though scholars believe that the paintings were added sometime later.
Cave 10
As mentioned, Cave 10 was excavated around the same time as Cave 9 and also features a carved stupa. The stupa here is also the biggest at Ajanta.
Again, the pillars are vividly painted. Interestingly, an image of the Buddha with many folds on his robes (not pictured) may have been inspired by the art of Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan).
Notably, some of the paintings are also believed to date to the cave’s initial construction around the 2nd century BC, making them some of the earliest known Indian Buddhist paintings.
Cave 11
Cave 11 is a former monastery dating to the 5th century AD. Some of its paintings still survive. You can see the remnants of a painting of Padmapani, reminiscent of the better-preserved version in Cave 1.
Interestingly, some of its benches resemble those of the Pandav Leni Caves in Nashik.
Cave 12
An early Therevada monastery, the interior of Cave 12 is small and undecorated and isn’t remarkable compared to its neighboring caves.
But Cave 12 is noteworthy due to the presence of the Flower of Life symbol (or at least half of it), located above the entrance. This is the only such example in the region.
The Flower of Life is a geometric pattern of multiple evenly spaced, overlapping circles arranged in a hexagonal flower-like design. It’s believed by many to symbolize creation.
The symbol has been found in numerous parts of the world dating back to at least 2500 years ago.
Cave 13-14
The next two caves, 13 and 14, are small and simple unfinished monasteries dating from Ajanta’s initial construction phase.
Cave 15
Cave 15 also served as a monastery. Some of the paintings on its ceiling remains intact, while it also features a carved Buddha image. Just next to it is the smaller 15A.
Cave 16
Sponsored by a Vakataka king, Cave 16 served as a Mahayana monastery. Today it’s noteworthy for the elephant sculptures flanking the entrance.
Though the cave’s interior was adorned in various paintings, many of them have been badly damaged.
Cave 17
This cave features more Jataka Tales than any other at Ajanta, featuring thirty major murals in total.
Cave 17 was sponsored by King Upendragupta, which we know thanks to an inscription in the Brahmi script that visitors can still see in the verandah. Speaking of the verandah, its brightly covered ceiling is one of the highlights of the entire site.
Inside the cave, you’ll find large and highly detailed murals. Unfortunately, some of them can be hard to make out in the dim lighting, though they easily rival those of Caves 1 and 2.
Cave 19
Cave 18 is just a small undercoated space, so let’s move on to Cave 19.
This cave, carved in the 5th century AD, is one of the most impressive caves at Ajanta in regards to its carvings – second only to Cave 26. Interestingly, the elaborate facade appears similar to that of Cave 9.
Cave 19 is also a chaitya hall, meaning it contains a stupa, an architectural element that’s often considered the holiest part of a Buddhist temple.
In contrast to the plain stupas of Caves 9 and 10, here we can see the Buddha directly carved into the stupa.
Surrounding it are over a dozen pillars, the capitals of which depict the Buddha in various poses along with guardian beings.
Cave 20
Cave 20 is a 5th-century monastery with an ornate central shrine, though there’s not a whole lot to make this one stand out.
Cave 21
Cave 21 is another monastery that was once entirely painted. Some of the original paintings still remain, but not on the level of other caves mentioned above.
Cave 22
This is a small vihara, or Buddhist assembly hall, with some detailed carvings. But this cave is not in the best of shape and won’t take up much of your time.
Cave 23
Cave 23 is yet another unfinished cave, though it features some impressive pillars.
While this cave may not stand out a whole lot, be sure to turn around for an excellent view of all the other caves.
Cave 24
Cave 24 is yet another unfinished cave, but this one is especially interesting considering how early the excavators stopped. The likely cause was the death of its sponsor, King Harisena.
The rough nature of this cave really makes one appreciate the hard work that must’ve went into all of the others.
I was unable to find Cave 25, which is supposed to be a monastery similar to some of the others mentioned above. But past Cave 24, you will see some interesting open-air carvings of the Buddha and guardian beings.
Cave 26
When it comes to carvings, Cave 26 is hands-down the most impressive at the Ajanta Caves.
It was commissioned by a monk named Buddhabhadra and a minister of King Asmaka. According to an inscription, they intended for this cave to endure ‘as long as the sun and moon.’
And while only time will tell, the carvings still appear as striking as they must’ve 1500 years ago.
Carved in the 5th century AD, this is yet another chaitya hall similar to Cave 19. But it’s bigger and more elaborate in every way, with its carvings rivaling the most impressive caves of Ellora.
Cave 26 is also unique at Ajanta for featuring a large reclining Buddha image. While it looks like he’s just resting, the scene depicts the Buddha at the time of his death.
Other scenes include the Temptations of Mara. According to legend, just before the Buddha was about to obtain enlightenment, the demon Mara tried to interfere by presenting him with all sorts of temptations, including his daughters.
When the Buddha failed to be tempted by lust, Mara tried to directly attack him but was unable to penetrate through his forcefield.
Despite saving it for last, I fortunately didn’t Cave 26 to be very crowded. I was far from alone, however.
Beyond Cave 26
Cave 26 is currently the last accessible cave at the Ajanta Caves, though there are a few more beyond it. From now, you can simply view their exteriors from the other side of a barrier.
When finished, it’s time to backtrack the way you came, walking past Cave 1 and the ticket gate until you reach the stop for the shuttle bus. It’s then a couple of hours back to the city of Aurangabad.
All in all, the Ajanta Caves is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in all of India, and it should not be missed by those passing through the state of Maharashtra.
Additional Info
The Ajanta Caves can be reached via public bus from Aurangabad’s central bus stand. It’s unclear exactly when the first bus departs, but some online sources state 8:30.
Considering how it takes 2-3 hours to reach Ajanta from Aurangabad, even taking the first bus means you’d get there just as the tour groups are arriving.
That’s why it’s best to arrange private transport. Considering how the site is 104 km (65 miles) from the city of Aurangabad, roundtrip transport won’t come that cheap. But it’s still worth it to beat the crowds.
In my case, I happened to have some unused credits on Booking that were about to expire, so I used them on a private driver to Ajanta. Going in a private car cost about $45 roundtrip, though you should be able to arrange a tuk tuk for a considerably lower price.
I had my driver pick me up at 6:30 which allowed time for a quick breakfast before getting to the Upper View Point just before 9:00.
As you can tell, Ajanta Caves on its own makes for quite a long day trip. As such, I’d highly recommend avoiding trying to visit Ajanta and Ellora on the same day.
This tour to both that’s spread out over two days seems like a great option.
For those coming from Mumbai, several trains depart per day, with the ride lasting 6-7 hours. There are also several trains per day from Nashik, with the ride lasting 3-4 hours.
You can also get to Aurangabad directly from cities like New Delhi, Agra, Bhopal, Hyderabad and more.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up, and I had no issues.
Aurangabad also has its own airport, with direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi.
Despite being the base from which to visit the Ellora and Ajanta Caves – arguably India’s most stunning tourist attractions – Aurangabad isn’t nearly as touristy as many Indian cities further north. And there doesn’t seem to be a designated tourist or hotel district.
For those willing to splurge a bit, Gateway Aurangabad is one of the highest-rated hotels in the city. Hotel JP International, meanwhile, seems like a good mid-range (by Indian pricing standards) option.
Being a long-term budget traveler, I stayed at Galaxy Residency which was a bit far from the center, but it was clean and had all the basics for less than Rs 1000 per night.
They will set you up with a driver, which has both its pros and cons. On the one hand, he offered reasonable prices and always showed up on time.
But he was also very persistent, and if he didn’t have any customers on a particular day, he’d just sit outside the hotel waiting for me to see what I had planned! On one of our outings, he also kept encouraging me to buy stuff from his acquaintances which I had to keep refusing.