Ajanta’s caves line a steep face of a horseshoe-shaped gorge bordering the Waghore River. Five of the caves are chaityas (prayer halls) while others are viharas (monasteries). Caves 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and part of 15 are early Buddhist caves, while the others date from around the 5th century AD (Mahayana period). In the austere early Buddhist school, the Buddha was never represented directly but always alluded to by a symbol such as the footprint or wheel of law.
During busy periods, viewers are allotted 15 minutes within the caves, many of which have to be entered barefoot (socks/shoe covers allowed). Caves 3, 5, 8, 22 and 28 to 30 remain either closed or inaccessible.
