Ajanta Caves near Aurangabad are 31 rock cut cave monuments dated back to 2nd Century BC that house masterpieces of Buddhist religious art as well as frescos similar to Sigiriya paintings from Sri Lanka. They were completed over 200 years and abandoned and forgotten soon after, to be rediscovered by a British officer in 1819. Not too far away are the Ellora Caves which are a series of 34 “caves” actually excavated out of the vertical face of Charanandri Hills which have Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock cut temples and monasteries. The architectural skill on display is awe-inspiring. The exotic settings, sense of history and exquisite handiwork make Ajanta and Ellora a tourist hotspot.
