![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS-to3BtAFOcU6_moHPs6uNhuSABSNmoQBkC8tYgptHF3OLdzMkkRqBovn4VIvKnVTyuqukcquAzyxy_YmBncrfz5iai8Sm1o-3iUq8ds8gI4NW1_ZRJKi22ew7tX12JjROGJ2hEWe5eq/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Little did he know that was just the beginning. Inside were what appeared to be man-made carvings. But that was just the beginning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zuYtB1VBZCGsPUXvVPFW62dJ1SPcV_F6fvQw4xi5KDr1GEu7I784La20q-QWHLsy73RP6MTskDjNbpgzchL7JmpiAzXSks8xmWnV1AWWdOjY-ao4Lpc84FbrvHSL0l55OT34FbON1DXA/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Further investigation revealed an entire system of shrines and monuments carved directly into the rock.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoMWXQ_nY96Gc8bCbxxtH21hEHaMisnHcISJ4TjoDwlSkgp29z4da3tecIhxmo4Ze960IOdBpYWNvAFlnQv8zagQ_Vuo60E3ecLZ3z25qVy-y6ckPoHB5YZquis3SXueZ7jCkPzCdTVXO/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
And 30 different caves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMVAdDy67NZ9LE5VtcfWTFcBqN2I-UBmMRQVzrLAnHwj1_nUWX3kMnkbwJrV5UPngHwjMMI0HZYMUVLUUOldT7Cys-wIQO7jTU6uTOrJ8NhFBbdBRQZm36defzFCJRjkc3h2g-KabOKZz/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Experts believe that they were constructed around 200 BCE as a retreat for Buddhist monks during the terrible monsoon season.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3CbISqSTAv6hfakwonREsm8lEd1d3owGJgqbLh_rW5W79jIxzbrVD7enXZW8nuRDI34vykYvaFOdLtCrE3DMoeDH5Xc00JPSeUb3Tqfl5cblkN_USPEq2jgEErokKRNOUwf7gZOEGSW_/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Each of the caves is unique, with its own intricately designed entrances and interiors.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgNoFNHiI03hMa3c26v_H8u_iFyWigKJQcrhbMA6JtEUI02-wh2m79vvqpKCehxLuHovKr9KXuC6mgEqHja0HeA76Su6z2xdGVqqiV7beKG-yI6Meih54dEr4FxZ0NIRsljiOYR6orTN4/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....png)
The caves were largely abandoned by the 7th century, but remained a sacred place for locals.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHFMTPkCqTVuRiveQFumrut5e1u2K5LpBVaq25wAgcMBGVwljcSekbsf2zRKs5c4BXMtkbZcfv6ZpxwQXvgICnaIetgDlPlXe5x4fA7dqGf0QRbbVp5LBttZxj2nyb3FazmJvuBuSQk44/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Many of the carvings depict the life of Buddha and his many incarnations.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwkff_vrfJhTPyK6RebdN-pDL2nDRfF3peRoTlynHnvGhDnOi1sA0FfV1qbh4fJhXKAgV6iYTaaPCQjYvSeoPeFPCqWj3G0nDT-xI7eEEm6peRTNr3XgznyrdQatZxYg01lg2dFx7JhkV/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
There are also a large number of paintings, many of which are remarkably well-preserved.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsjv0PfAvhxq_7sPruSavEXVivAG_8Yz7HctBf8A5ncusysJPE1y2kyovy718n7polHt2PR-I5mHkl7WPvtPwaXpRX7a2IZLnnbqxs3bv4dOA5ErLpYAtAhcqT_oLXGTA6mYhL1Zmlc9c/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
It's amazing how much color and detail still remains after all those years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazMifnUNVBxcK1SHToqtE29FJaeHXX23b1mwwjtHiweV4xlHbAGuycMzRHSvmPBy0eJ07rhc73siY7RroZUdPyAONa1N-c-rawGPzFR_8HBBes_uSvtBGdTBDV2tvfj0LEN_wJvzprpbW/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
One of the more popular theories surrounding the caves is that they were built to align with the solstices and other cosmological events.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DqMPaT147zWNrMQTLAuD6oBHVO7_fCcnkxIe434wYY4dKVc26Il_mFaHnoDysTspyE3I80aYus6PHbJRWiWYBI-xs7f1_-fZUHBdzYMhk_7wrS7SAVmEhV_HzzggKe6ot4Zg25zrwpWD/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Caves 19 and 26 do actually align perfectly with the winter and summer solstices, respectively.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb15LsoJhQNDSTrbQdmiO1VWCORUdqYX4Ev6s_q3o5mYqwPS8k36D6Sk7h2nFS6jq2qjyvxbhGuAShaW-C0Zm-vpQeBRq5Idi1f2xJLUN-V9V7-mRCGcyIfASE-xFVUAEqmyzZMCH8DEPe/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
On their designated days, the sun shines straight through holes in their roofs, illuminating the religious displays within.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXL_RAbYpztsarK53YusjqG89prUoZVlAhW46De-UwcaeV1J4ZWxcNKkNU4Vi4Y9ztc0Ro3X2zk4jhr7896puSg7Bv7kqkSknDRsCD-CcUofQ83PKVxRtAJw99XpDAstq54ao5L0samwQ/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Even after centuries, the interiors are still absolutely stunning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAtpnLbiIw21JTghgd4vvP6eZUoJtFUM87J7dcpHlRhmUHg68GN45NyBfTkwH8xIUOod9LTqAKdckd6fMksysNaqVZXq4PXEHSQym8P8a7mXHe5Sit1RxvpL91TIIFZgKsE5pi0OanWuV/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
The effort and precision required to build these elaborate structures is truly mind-boggling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkHvyZxRXuvxElhT5jsjQ5_yeOy6LUN5Mr6A4w4_QKJ0aW0GFxwGSu9ir1cSbuG6gOZa3b-gaQFuS9xN4GCGY_UP4cTEW5pRW8iPMeBDj6h9-rsvJtpLLGiKJW88elvQqxYHveQwe3zg-/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Especially considering they had to do it with comparatively limited tools.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8bm5m9g55nporu1WfQfwKw_fAA85Ua8rrjd6fEJ1BU-PGYQ7jufcJnQ5-zgbTBJjCUZHAf92BlfcSsy2KkCgOZ7HkzSyYvzJ4KtCEageKlAUPFVHwiAHLMia7l4Ieyhru9K9xCgjHbFP/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
We may never know exactly how they managed to build these incredible caves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylZSNAJdDPdDioJ_49htkbNsfKKViLBm_2n3iR7u25-DVVh81qlRw_VDBrlJ0MqBNGW3bCTXBlqi4eFxXWvlcY-wQTlQTgXPzka6YgrsADlM-o3Xu_Gj537XMcwkMPXrTU7SHXcQyhXBU/s1600/He+Was+Hunting+A+Tiger+When+He+Found+This+Strange+Cave%252C+And+You+Won%2527t+Believe+What%2527s+Inside....jpg)
Simply amazing. It really makes you wonder what other secrets may still be hiding out there, waiting to be discovered by adventurous souls!
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Category:
Inspirations