Why Ajanta Caves Were Scooped in the Deccan Plateau?
Expert scholars, learned men, pilgrims, and tourists from the world have visited the Ajanta Caves. And in unison every one wondered why the caves were scooped out on this horseshoe rock in the middle of the Deccan Plateau. Late Prof. D.D. Kosambi who was a great scholar suggested that all the caves in the Western Ghats from Shudhaghar through Karla to Ajanta are located on the crests of an ancient trade route – from Arabian Sea in to the Deccan. This may be one of the reasons for the carving in the Ajanta rocks as there were Mandis or trade centers of Deogiri and Jalgaon nearby. The second reason may be the texture of the granite rock which was in layers. This could be easily cut with what-ever instruments were available to the craftsman at that time. The third reason is that Buddhist monks preferred to live in seclusion. But they went for alms to villages, towns and trade centers, and always returned to the ravines and gorges to be away from the crowds.It is best to view the caves in
