Ajanta Cave One

Ajanta Cave One is built on the eastern end of the horse-shoe shaped scarp. This cave features intricate carvings on its façade, depicting the life of Buddha. Several sculptures are engraved on the entablature and ridges, along with the decorative motifs.

The cave has a front-court that comprises cells fronted by pillared lobby on both the sides. It also features a porch that has simple cells on both the ends and three doorways. In order to brighten up the interiors, two square windows have been carved between the doorways.

Inside the cave, each wall is around 12 metres long and 6.1 metres high. The ceiling inside the cave is supported by twelve pillars that make the aisles along the walls spacious. Towards the rear wall, a shrine has been carved to seat the image of the Buddha in the Dharmachakra Pravartana mudra.

All the walls in the cave are covered with paintings depicting didactic, devotional and ornamental scenes. The scenes are based on the stories mentioned in the Jatakas, which revolve around the life of Gautama Buddha.