Monumentality, Nature and World Heritage Monuments: The rock-cut sites of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta in Maharashtra

The caves at Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta stand out in the list of 32 UNESCO World Heritage sites in India. They are the only three sites to be recognized in the state of Maharashtra, and they could be classified as sites of both cultural and natural relevance; in fact, the monumentality of these rock-cut establishments is closely intertwined with their natural environments. By focusing on the caves at Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora, the paper intends to discuss the elusive boundaries between monuments and landscapes in South Asia, and how the dichotomy between cultural and natural heritage needs to be rethought in this context.