!Ajanta Ajanta is a place situated about 107 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra. There are 29 caves that were cut into the rocks whith paintings and sculpture inside. These are one of the most important heritage sites of India. Nestled in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe, Ajanta caves are considered to be among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries. Buddha vihars are used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. As for the paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves, they depict incidents from the lives of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. We tell here the "lives" because Buddha himself had told the stories of his former lives. These stories are popularly known as Jatak stories. These Jatakas are depicted among the most interesting paintings. The Jataka tales is paintings illustrate diverse stories relating to the previous incarnations of the Buddha as Bodhisattava, a saintly being who is destined to become the Buddha. These elaborate sculptures and paintings stand impressive in grandeur and purpose. Amid the beautiful images and paintings are sculptures of Buddha, calm and serene in contemplation.