Sculptures adorning the outer walls of Cave 19, Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, India

            This cave has the most beautiful façade of the all of Ajanta caves. This chaityagriha (16.05 X 7.09 m) was excavated in 5th century A.D of the Mahayana phase. The stupa is carved with a standing image of Buddha. 

The façade has a portico standing on two pillars, above this is a horse-shoe shaped chaitya arch-window. On either side of the chaitya window are the imposing sculptures of Yakshas which are notable for their ornate jewelry and interesting hair styles. There is Buddha images on either sides of the entrance and the whole façade is ornate with sculptures. This cave is one of the best specimens of Buddhist rock cut architecture. The entire cave was once painted including the pillars, walls and the vaulted ceiling. Traces of paintings can be see even today. The space between the vaulted ceiling and the pillars, is filled with beautiful sculptures.

The Ajanta Caves are approximately 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India. The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form.

They are universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The caves were built in two phases, the first starting around the 2nd century BCE and the second occurring from 400 to 650 CE, according to older accounts, or in a brief period of 460–480 CE according to later scholarship. The site is a protected monument in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, and since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taken on: March 20, 2022

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