The Ajanta Caves were carved in the 2nd century BC out of a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River. The Ajanta caves preserve some of the best mastepiece of buddhist. They were used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls (chaitya grihas) and monasteries (viharas) for about nine centuries, then abruptly abandoned. Untill this cave was discovered by John Smith, the british soldier in 1819.