The Ajanta Caves The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence. The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maha