Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves

▪ cave temples, India
 Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries, located near Ajanta village, north-central Maharashtra (Mahārāshtra) state, western India, that are celebrated for their wall paintings. The temples are hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 70-foot (20-metre) ravine in the Wagurna River valley, 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Aurangabad, at a site of great scenic beauty.

      The group of some 30 caves was excavated between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE and consists of two types, caityas (“sanctuaries”) and viharas (“monasteries”). Although the sculpture, particularly the rich ornamentation of the caitya pillars, is noteworthy, it is the fresco-type paintings that are the chief interest of Ajanta. These paintings depict colourful Buddhist legends and divinities with an exuberance and vitality that is unsurpassed in Indian art. The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Ajanta Caves — Infobox World Heritage Site WHS = Ajanta Caves State Party = IND Type = Cultural Criteria = i, ii, iii, vi ID = 242 Region = Asia Pacific Year = 1983 Session = 7th Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are… …   Wikipedia

  • Ajanta Caves — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ajanta — Ajantâ 20°32′01″N 75°44′59″E / 20.53361, 75.74972 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ajanta —    At Ajanta in the Aurangabad District of Maha rashtra are some of the most famous ancient caves of India. Here are preserved some of India’s most beautiful ancient painting and sculpturing. The caves date from the second century B.C.E. to… …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Ajantā — Grutas de Ajantā¹ Patrimonio de la Humanidad Unesco Vista general del lugar. Coordenadas …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ajantâ — Grottes d Ajanta * Patrimoine mondial de l UNESC …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ajanta Express — The Ajanta Express ( mr. अजंठा एक्स प्रेस),( hi. अजंता एक्स प्रेस),( te. అజంతా ఎక్స్ ప్రెస్) is a daily express train presently running between Kachiguda, Andhra Pradesh and Manmad Junction, a town in Nasik District of Maharashtra. The train was… …   Wikipedia

  • Ajanta — geographical name village W central India in N central Maharashtra in Ajanta Range NNE of Aurangabad; site of Ajanta Caves (temples excavated out of rock cliffs) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ajanta — /euh jun teuh/, n. a village in N Maharashtra, in W central India: caves and shrines containing Buddhist frescoes and sculptures. * * * …   Universalium

  • Ajanta — /euh jun teuh/, n. a village in N Maharashtra, in W central India: caves and shrines containing Buddhist frescoes and sculptures …   Useful english dictionary

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