Overview | How to Reach | Sightseeing | Hotels | Map | Photos
Aurangabad Caves are a group of 12 artificial rock-cut Buddhist shrines located on a hill running roughly from east to west nearly 2 km north from Biwi ka Maqbara another very important historical monument in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in the western region of India.
Aurangabad Caves History
The first-ever reference of Aurangabad Caves has been first found in the big chaitya of Kanheri. The caves were dug out in the 6th to 7th century B.C. and are unlike other caves made out of soft basalt rock. As the region of Maharashtra has an abundance of basalt rock so the rock-cut structures are primarily built of this rock.
These Aurangabad Caves have been overshadowed by the giant and sprawling Ajanta and Ellora caves. But the beauty of these caves is no less than that of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. These caves are situated in the Sihaychal ranges and are very close to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Marathwada University.
It is very unfortunate that in spite of its beauty the scholars have been neglecting these caves but an exhaustive study has been carried out to for the Aurangabad Caves as a missing link between Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
There is a striking resemblance in sculpture between the 1st and 3rd caves of Aurangabad Caves and the last phase of Caves of the Ajanta group. It shows the fine craftsmanship of these Buddhist shrines and that is the reason the government is promoting it as a good tourist spot with proper facilities in place.
Aurangabad Caves are awe-inspiring for so many reasons! The wonderful carvings, beautiful artworks in themselves and but maybe even more important that the three religions share d in it. It must be a marvelous thing to see — it certainly deserves to be a World Heritage Site.