Ajanta Cave Sixteen

Ajanta Cave Sixteen is known for its porch doorway that has images of two Goddesses carved on the pilasters. This cave features life-size figure of Buddha seated with his feet down the base. The large veranda in the cave leads to the hall, which houses six cells on each side.

The inner shrine of this cave houses a Giant Statue of Buddha in Abhaya Mudra, which is also called the teaching gesture. Painting on the left wall of this cave is considered to be one of the finest paintings in the world art. This painting depicts the wife of Gautama's cousin, Nanda, who is suffering from the shock after hearing the news of her husband becoming a monk.

Some of the other paintings on the walls of this cave include Buddha with a begging bowl, Prince Siddharth stretching the bow and descents of Buddha from the Tushita heaven. Another painting in this cave, called the Sutasama Jataka, narrates the story of the previous incarnation of Bodhisattva and the son of the King of Indraprastha, Sutasama.