Ajanta Caves - History & who made it?

Ajanta Caves was one of the most well kept secrets from the world till date. The caves were kept hidden on purpose for 1000's of years untill a British Officer found them again in the early 1800's.
Within just 200 years humans have not really had the time to find out a lot of information but here's what we know.

History of Ajanta Caves & who made it?

Ajanta lies in the Vakataka Empire, close to major trade route, cuttingacross the country from east to west. Wealthy traders and merchants used to move along this route. They have begun to break journey of Ajanta. The traders and merchant contributed in various ways towards decoration and expansion of the monastery. It aimed in gaining spiritual merit and as a part of success.

The caves of Ajanta were excavated during the time of Satavahana (225 BC to 225 AD). the Vakataka (250 AD to 450 AD), the Gupta (320 AD to 500 AD) and Chalukyas (550 AD to 757 AD). 49 Satavahana were considered as the lords of the Deccan and ruled present maratha country with their capital Pratisthana. It reached to zenith and its glory under Gotamiputra Sin Satakarni (72-95 A.D) and the earliest caves were carved in this period.

The Deccan after the decline of Satavahana came under the Vakatakas with the capital Vatsagulma (Basim). Some of the most important excavations of Ajanta were executed during the time of Harisena (475-510 A.D.) and Varahdeva the minister of the Vakataka king. Harisena dedicated cave 16 to the Buddhist sangha (475 - 500 A.D.).

The Cave 17 was a gift of a prince feudatory to the same king. Vakataka had matrimonial alliance with Gupta and thus Gupta impact on art and architecture is clearly seen. The glorious reign of Vakataka and Gupta is mirrored in social life of the area and period. There were change
in tastes and fashions of the people. The simple life of the Satavahana period became rich and complex under the Vakatakas. Davalikar M.K. writes in this context, ‘In the world of Kalidasa which is reflected in the contemporary art and literature.

It is only this unprecedented prosperity which would have made possible the artistic creations such as those at Ajanta which we admire today. The monuments of the Satavahana and the Vakataka-Gupta period bear eloquent testimony to this prosperity of which the murals at Ajanta are the crowning glory.