Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The over 2,000-year-old, world-renowned Ajanta Caves will mark 207 years since their rediscovery on April 28. The caves were rediscovered in 1819 by British cavalry officer John Smith. The inscription date can be seen in Cave No. 10. The painted caves were accorded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, along with the Ellora Caves and the Taj Mahal. However, there is a dire need for the fulfilment of few long-pending demands and tourist-friendly facilities.
Comprising 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves, Ajanta is globally acclaimed for its remarkable paintings, particularly in Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17. The horseshoe-shaped complex depicts the life of Gautama Buddha, from his birth and enlightenment to his teachings. Intricate frescoes and sculptures illustrating Jataka tales are among its key attractions.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) is the custodian of the caves. Facilities such as shuttle (diesel) buses operated by MSRTC, the handicraft shopping area, and the Ajanta Visitors’ Centre (AVC) are managed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).
Often in the news for various reasons
Currently, the ASI (Ajanta sub-circle) is grappling with a honeybee menace, an environmental challenge that has brought the site into national focus. The Department of Forest (DoF) is assisting, though a permanent solution remains elusive. The caves are closed to visitors on Mondays for maintenance. However, incidents such as sightings of wildlife, including leopards, water seepage during the monsoon, or VVIP visits frequently keep the site in the news for the whole year.
Ajanta Visitors’ Centre underutilised
The significance of the site could increase substantially if the Ajanta Visitors’ Centre (AVC) functions regularly. Built by the Central Government in 2013, its prolonged closure has undermined its purpose. A key feature of the AVC is the replicas of four painted caves, designed to reduce pressure on the original artworks. Carbon dioxide exhaled by visitors increases humidity and disturbs the microclimate inside the caves, posing a threat to the paintings. However, with the AVC largely closed, visitors continue to crowd the original caves. To protect the paintings, the ASI prohibits flash photography and uses optic fibre lighting inside the caves.
Demand for electric vehicles
There is a long-pending demand to introduce electric vehicles for transporting tourists from Ajanta T-Point to the caves, a distance of about 4 km one way. Similar EV carts at Ellora Caves have significantly improved visitor numbers there. The present fuel buses have been posing health threats for the past many years, claims the experts.
Why tourists skip Ajanta
The declining footfall at Ajanta Caves remains a major concern for stakeholders. While Ellora Caves, located about 28 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, attracts large numbers of visitors, nearly 70 per cent of them skip Ajanta, which lies around 100 km away.
Key reasons include previously poor road connectivity (an issue for over five to seven years until recently), a shortage of skilled guides, and the need for more tourist-friendly facilities. Tour operators and stakeholders have repeatedly raised these concerns, but visible improvements are still awaited.
Miscellaneous reasons
The shopping plaza and parking bay is managed by MTDC, but it also faces hurdles.