The Ajanta Caves are rock cut Buddhist cave monuments famous for their paintings and sculptures. Which of the following statements about these caves is not true?

Introduction / Context:
The Ajanta Caves are among the most important heritage sites in India and are frequently mentioned in art, culture, and history sections of competitive examinations. These rock cut Buddhist caves are celebrated for their murals, sculptures, and architectural design. Exam questions often ask about their location, period, artistic themes, and international recognition. This particular question checks whether you can identify an incorrect statement about the caves, focusing on what kind of paintings they contain.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the Ajanta Caves, a famous group of Buddhist cave monuments.
• The question provides several statements and asks which one is not true.
• Statements mention their location in Maharashtra, their Buddhist art, depiction of ancient techniques, presence or absence of flora and fauna in paintings, and UNESCO World Heritage status.
• We assume the learner knows basic facts about Ajanta related to its art and historical importance.

Concept / Approach:
Ajanta is known for exquisite murals that depict scenes from the life of Buddha, Jataka tales, and various aspects of courtly and everyday life. These paintings include detailed representations of humans, animals, birds, trees, flowers, and other elements of flora and fauna. The caves are located in Maharashtra and are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, any statement that claims there are no paintings of flora and fauna is contrary to well established knowledge and must be identified as the incorrect statement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read each statement carefully and compare it with known facts about Ajanta Caves. Step 2: Confirm that Ajanta is indeed located in the state of Maharashtra, so that statement is correct. Step 3: Recall that the caves are decorated with Buddhist art and murals depicting religious and secular themes, which makes that statement correct as well. Step 4: Remember that the paintings and sculptures at Ajanta display advanced techniques from ancient India, so the statement about depicting ancient techniques is true. Also, Ajanta is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making that statement correct. The only incorrect statement is the one claiming that there are no paintings of flora and fauna, because the murals actually include many such images.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine or recall pictures of Ajanta murals from textbooks and documentaries. You will see richly painted scenes with trees, flowers, animals, birds, and other natural elements alongside human figures. Art historians emphasise how the artists observed the natural world and represented flora and fauna with great sensitivity. UNESCO listings and official tourism information confirm both the location in Maharashtra and the World Heritage status. This confirms that the denial of flora and fauna paintings is the only false statement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The statement that the caves are in Maharashtra is correct, as Ajanta is situated near Aurangabad in that state. The statement about Buddhist art is also correct, since the caves were built by Buddhist monks and patrons and contain images related to Buddhism. The statement regarding depiction of ancient painting and sculpting techniques is accurate because the caves are studied for their advanced artistic methods and stylistic features. The statement that they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site is also true. Only the statement claiming that Ajanta does not contain paintings of flora and fauna contradicts the visual evidence available in the murals.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is rushing through the question and assuming that a more technical sounding statement about techniques or UNESCO status must be false, while the simple one about flora and fauna must be true. Another mistake is confusing Ajanta with other sites and incorrectly doubting its location in Maharashtra. To avoid such errors, take time to recall what the murals actually show and cross check each statement with that mental picture. Remember that Ajanta is particularly admired for its naturalistic portrayal of plants and animals alongside human figures.

Final Answer:
The statement that is not true about the Ajanta Caves is: They do not contain any paintings of flora and fauna.