The Artistic and Architectural Marvels of Ajanta and Ellora Caves: A Scholarly Review

This review paper discusses the origin, characteristics and rock carvings of the Ajanta caves and Ellora caves at Maharashtra in India. The caves are the monumental relics of the cultural and artistic greatness of India that is one of the most important legacies of the rock cut construction in the world. The paper shows how the Ajanta and Ellora developed over time, how they contributed to the Buddhist and Hindu and Jain traditions in respect of art. Moreover, it also talks about the changes in style between Ajanta and Bagh caves, conservation works done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the cultural influence of these ancient works on a bigger scale. According to Spink (2005), Ajanta, as it is, is a totality of Buddhist art. The paper ends with the conclusion that as long as heritage management preservation continues to be a challenge, sustainable heritage management is required..