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The Ajanta Caves are a group of caves in a wooded ravine about 3½ km from the village of Ajinthā in Aurangabad, celebrated for its cave art and monastic architecture. Believed to have been originally constructed in the 5th century CE, they were intended as Buddhist viharas and stupas which were dug into the side of the mountain. The caves contain elaborate artwork, mostly describing the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha and his preivious reincarnations as described in the Jataka tales. After being lost to the world, the caves were rediscovered through excavation over a period of three centuries, ending in 1956. Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program.
