Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Museum-Grade LED Lights Planned for Maharashtra’s Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta caves are an important World Heritage site in Maharashtra.
They contain ancient paintings and decorated ceilings.
The Archaeological Survey of India wants to change the lighting inside the caves.
The old lights use optical fibre technology.
New museum-grade LED lights will first be tested in Cave No.
2.
Officials will check whether the new lights affect the paintings.
If the test works well, the lights may be used in other caves.
The new system is also expected to help visitors see and understand the paintings better.
The Archaeological Survey of India will replace old optical fibre lights at the Ajanta caves with museum-grade LED lights.
A pilot project is planned for Cave No. 2 during the current financial year.
ASI will study the lights’ effects before installing them in other caves.
Officials said optical fibre lighting is outdated, difficult to maintain, and space-consuming.
The Ajanta complex has 30 caves, including six with paintings depicting Buddhist stories and contemporary life.
- Who
- The Archaeological Survey of India, as reported by Superintending Archaeologist Arun Malik.
- What
- A pilot project will replace old optical fibre lighting with museum-grade LED lights.
- When
- The pilot is planned for the current financial year; the report is dated October 1.
- Where
- Ajanta caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The existing optical fibre system is described as outdated, difficult to supply with spare parts, and space-consuming, while the new system may improve visitors’ understanding of the paintings.
- Site
- Ajanta Cave complex
- Location
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
- Total caves
- 30
- Caves with paintings
- 6
- Pilot location
- Cave No. 2
- Current lighting
- Optical fibre lights
- Planned lighting
- Museum-grade LED lights