Ajanta Caves  

• Location: Situated in the Sahyadri Hills (Western Ghats) along the Waghora River near Aurangabad, Maharashtra.  
• Total Caves: 29 rock-cut Buddhist caves – 25 served as Viharas (monastic residences) and 4 as Chaityas (prayer halls).  
• Period of Construction: Developed between 200 BCE and 650 CE.  
• Patronage: Built primarily by Buddhist monks with the support of the Vakataka rulers, especially King Harishena.  
• Historical References: Mentioned by Chinese travellers Fa Hien (reign of Chandragupta II) and Hiuen Tsang (reign of Harshavardhana).  
• Art Style: Fresco painting technique used with red outlines; notably, blue pigment is absent. Themes center on the life of Buddha and Jataka tales.  
• UNESCO Recognition: Declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Ellora Caves  

• Location: Located around 100 km from Ajanta in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri range.  
• Total Caves: Comprises 34 caves – 17 Hindu, 12 Buddhist, and 5 Jain, showcasing religious harmony.  
• Period of Development: Constructed between the 5th and 11th centuries CE by artisans from Vidarbha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.  
• Architectural Diversity: Reflects varied themes and architectural styles due to contributions from different cultural backgrounds.  
• Key Highlight: Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the most prominent and represents Mount Kailasa.  
• UNESCO Recognition: Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1983.