Discover the amazing Buddhist art and architecture in the cave sites of India near Mumbai (Ellora, Ajanta, and Elephanta) and those scattered along the Silk Road trade route in China (Mogao, Yungang, Longmen, and Baodingshan).

This Approach Guide profiles six of the world’s greatest Buddhist cave sites — vast religious centers carved into solid rock — tracing their development from their origins in Northwest India to their later manifestations in China. Each cave site is reviewed through various lenses: historical, architectural, and artistic (both painted and sculptural).

Use this travel guide to tour Buddhist cave sites (such as Ajanta and Ellora) and to understand the history of cave architecture and evolution of styles from India to China.

As with all of our guides, we pay specific attention to what makes each site unique. To do so in this case, we track the transformation of architectural and artistic elements from site to site, highlighting what was borrowed, what is entirely new, and what is truly special. Along the way, we also offer insight into how the Chinese adopted elements of Indian Buddhist artistic expression and re-crafted them to yield a style entirely their own.

This guidebook begins with a review of the earliest Buddhist cave site in existence, Ajanta, the excavation of which began in India in the 2nd century BCE; we then proceed to its geographical neighbor, Ellora caves (excavated 7-8th centuries); we then jump to China (first large-scale exposure to the India-born Buddhist religion in the 1st century via the Silk Road), progressing chronologically from the Mogao caves (begun early 4th century), to the Yungang caves (begun late 4th century), to the Longmen caves (begun late 5th century), and finally to the Baodingshan complex (12th century).

Approach Guides to Ancient Buddhist Caves in India and China includes detailed reviews of the following sites, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (See our custom map of all of the cities we profile in this guide)

• Ajanta Caves (near Mumbai and Aurangabad, India). Features: unique architecture and well-preserved, world-class 5th century frescoes.
• Ellora Caves (near Mumbai and Aurangabad, India). Features: the stunning Kailasa temple and rock-cut architecture from three religions: Buddhism, Hindu and Jain.
• Mogao Caves (near Dunhuang, China). Features: the oldest caves in China; contains architecture from every major Chinese dynasty.
• Yungang Caves (outside Datong, China). Features: high quality art and architecture; our personal favorite in China given its state of preservation, ease of accessibility and lenient photo restrictions.
• Longmen Caves (outside Luoyang, China). Features: over 1,300 caves exist in this area; the site is known for its sculptural detail given the hard rock that is found in this location.
• Baodingshan Caves (in Dazu outside Chongqing, China). Features: completely different from all other cave sites; this site is devoted to a cult-like sect of Buddhism, which is reflected in the architecture and sculpture here.

We hope you enjoy what we believe is a totally unique cultural guide to the world greatest Buddhist treasures.

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